Alternative Methods Of Extracting Metals (ht Only) (GCSE Chemistry)

Why might an operator choose bioleaching for copper rather than directly using conventional cyanide leaching?

A mining company reports that switching from smelting to solvent-extraction electrowinning (SX–EW) after bioleaching reduced onsite CO2 emissions but increased use of organic solvents. Which trade-off does this illustrate?

Which of the following describes a key step in phytomining after harvesting metal-accumulating plants?

When comparing energy use per kg of metal produced, which statement is generally true for primary aluminium (electrolysis) versus copper recovered by SX–EW after bioleaching for low-grade ore?

Which of the following metals is commonly recovered from solutions produced by bioleaching or acid leaching using solvent extraction followed by electrowinning?

Which property of a metal ore makes it a poor candidate for phytomining?

Which safety or environmental hazard is specifically associated with bioleaching heaps that operators must manage?

Which of the following policy or regulatory measures would most encourage adoption of alternative, lower-emission extraction methods?

Which analytical measurement would help determine whether phytomining has successfully concentrated a target metal in harvested biomass?

Which of the following best describes phytomining as an alternative method to extract a metal from low-grade ore?

An economist compares two options to treat low-grade copper ore: conventional smelting or bioleaching + SX–EW. Which factor should be included in a life-cycle cost comparison that favors bioleaching?