8. Extracting Metals from Scrap

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This Association for Science Education (ASE) publication about extracting metals from scrap was developed in association with ECR Ltd. This was a secondary copper refining company which was first established in Birmingham in 1807. Its origins could be traced back to Faraday's work on electroplating. ECR Ltd was then located near Walsall in the West Midlands and had recently became part of the IMI Group.

The booklet contained guidance for teachers and notes for students. It included activities suitable for both students aged 14 to 16 (O-level work) and for students aged 16 to 19 (A-level work).

Teachers’ Guide
1. Industrial background
2. Educational scope
3. Notes on experiments
• Experiment 1: Assaying a gunmetal alloy scrap for copper content
• Experiment 2: Analysis of mixed furnace oxide
• Experiment 3: Analysis of lead/tin alloy
• Experiment 4: Electrolytic purification of copper
• Experiment 5: Laboratory model of the commercial purification of copper
• Experiment 6: Simulation of copper stripping and nickel recovery
• Experiment 7: Analysis of the acidified copper(ll) sulphate electrolyte
4. Appendix: Relationships to 16+ chemistry syllabus

Students’ Worksheets
Experiment 1: Determining the percentage of copper in gunmetal alloy scrap
Experiment 2: Analysis of mixed furnace oxide
Experiment 3: Analysis of lead/tin alloy
Experiment 4: Electrolytic purification of copper
Experiment 5: Laboratory model of the commercial purification of copper
Experiment 6: Simulation of copper stripping and nickel recovery
Experiment 7: Analysis of the acidified copper(ll) sulphate electrolyte

URL: http://stem.org.uk/rx5hj

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