A metal ore contains metal oxides from which it is economically viable to extract metal. Most common extraction methods are reduction reactions, which remove oxygen from metal oxides, or electrolysis for highly reactive metals above carbon in the reactivity series. Less reactive metals below carbon in the reactivity series can be extracted through heating with carbon in a blast furnace via displacement reactions.

1. Extracting Metals
A METAL ORE is a mineral or mixture
of minerals from which it is
“economically viable” to extract some
metal.
Most ores contain METAL OXIDES
To “extract” a metal from a metal oxide we need to remove
the oxygen. This is called a REDUCTION reaction.
Iron
Iron Oxide remove the oxygen
ore =
to extract iron

2. Extracting Metals
Metals ABOVE CARBON, because
Potassium of their high reactivity, are
Sodium extracted by ELECTROLYSIS
Calcium Metals BELOW CARBON are
Magnesium extracted by heating them with
carbon in a BLAST FURNACE.
Aluminium
This is a “displacement reaction”
Carbon
Zinc
Iron carbon iron di oxide
Tin
Lead
Copper
These LOW REACTIVITY metals won’t
Silver need to be extracted because they are
Gold SO unreactive you’ll find them on their
own, not in a metal oxide
Platinum