Unit 2B.

6
Mining and Refining
 Oxidation-Reduction reactions
“aka” Redox Reactions
• Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons
from one species (atom, ion, molecule) to another
• Oxidation actually means the loss of electrons
The species that loses the electrons is said to have been
oxidized
• Reduction actually means the gaining of electrons
The species that gains the electrons is said to have been
reduced
Oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously as electrons
are not lost in chemical reactions – Redox reactions
(reduction-oxidation reactions)
 OIL RIG
Oxidation
Is
Loss of electrons

Reduction
Is
Gain of electrons
 Redox reactions are useful in mining because they
produce the free metal
If the ore contains metal ions they can be
REDUCED to give the solid metal

Cu+2 + 2e-→ Cu(s)

• To do this one needs to find a substance or
process that will provide the electrons needed for
reduction
One method uses a solid metal that was higher on
the Activity series to provide the electrons

Cu+2 + Mg (s) → Cu(s) + Mg+2

ALL Redox reactions
require a source of
electrons
Electrometallurgy
 Uses an electrical current to supply
electrons to metal ion
 Reduces them
Pyrometallurgy
 Using heat and Carbon (coke) or Carbon
monoxide (carbon supplies the electrons)
Hydrometallurgy

Treating ores with reactants that are in
solution
We can visually represent a redox reaction
using:
Electron Dot structures
 Shows the valence electrons of the neutral
element that can be transferred
 Valance electrons are the electrons in the

outermost electron layer or shell

•Let’s look at a magnesium atom.
Magnesium is in the Alkaline
Earth Metal family, and it has two
valance electrons.
•The valence electrons are
represented by the dots next to
the chemical symbol for
Magnesium (Mg).
•Place dots one at a time, counter
clockwise.
Mg
Let’s Practice
Write the Electron Dot
structures for Ca, N, C, Br, Kr.
Your Answers
Let’s see how electron
dot structures are
used to visualize
redox reactions.
When reactive metals like magnesium form
ions, they lose their valance electrons.

Mg → Mg+2 + 2e-
Mg releases its valence electrons =
LOSS

This is Oxidation
 More Examples

Zn → Zn+2 +
2e-
Cu → Cu+2 +
2e-
Pb → Pb+3 +
3e -
 Reduction
Reduction is the opposite of oxidation. In
reduction, the metal ion gains electrons to
become an atom
Mg receives electrons = GAIN

Mg+2 + 2e- → Mg

This is Reduction
 Ore to Metal
Ores are metal and stone amalgams or
mixtures.
When a metal is in an ore, it exists as an
ion
Malachite, a copper
containing ore,
contains copper
ions.
 Ores to Metals
One way to free the metal ions, is to react
the ore with a more reactive metal.
Remember oxidation and reduction
happen at the same time.
In this reaction the result is copper metal.

Cu +2
+ Mg → Cu + Mg
+2
 Redox reactions
Redox reactions can only take place if the
more reactive metal is the reducing agent
In other words the more reactive metal is in its
elemental form.
Use the metal active series
There must be the same number of electrons
lost as gained for a redox reaction to occur
Oxidizing Agent

Substance that causes another to be
oxidized.
 Is reduced itself
Reducing Agent
 Substance that causes another to be
reduced.

Is oxidized itself
 Half Reactions
We use half reactions as another way of
visualizing what is taking place in a Redox
reaction.

Cu+2 + Mg → Cu +
Mg+2
Cu+2 + 2e- →
This is Reduction
CuAgent
Oxidizing

This is
Oxidation
Mg → Mg +Reducing Agent
+2

2e-
 Homework
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Homework: Unit 2B.6.