Question 1

The first ores that were widely smelted by humans to produce metal were those of ________.

Accepted Answer

Copper was the first metal to be smelted by humans, dating back to over 7,000 years ago. It was smelted in the Middle East and later in other parts of the world, and was used to make tools, weapons, and jewelry. Bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin, came later and was also widely used. Gold and iron were both used by humans for various purposes, but they were not the first metals to be smelted.

Question 2

Which list places important pure metals and alloys in chronological order from first to last (most recent)in terms of their widespread use by humans?

Accepted Answer

Copper was one of the first metals to be used by humans due to its natural occurrence in native form. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, came next as civilizations developed metalworking techniques. Iron followed, marking the beginning of the Iron Age, as it requires higher temperatures to smelt.

Question 3

Which of these commonly used metals sometimes occurs as a native metal?

Accepted Answer

Copper sometimes occurs as a native metal, meaning it can be found in its pure metallic form in nature. Aluminum, iron, and tin are rarely found as native metals, as they typically occur in compounds with other elements.

Question 4

Alloys are useful because they ________.

Accepted Answer

Alloys are created by combining two or more metals to form a new material that has properties different from its components. Alloys can have improved strength, durability, and other properties compared to the metals they are made from, making them ideal for a variety of applications such as construction, manufacturing, and transportation.

Question 5

Consult the figure below.What native metal is most likely to occur within quartz veins?

Accepted Answer

Gold is often found in quartz veins as it is a native metal that is resistant to corrosion and oxidation. Copper and aluminum are not typically found in quartz veins, and brass is not a native metal but an alloy made up of copper and zinc.

Question 6

Nonmetals extracted from metals during smelting are termed ________.

Accepted Answer

Slag is the correct term for nonmetals extracted from metals during the smelting process. It refers to the byproduct that forms on the surface of molten metal, which includes various impurities and nonmetallic elements.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a mineral resource?

Accepted Answer

Coal is classified as a rock rather than a mineral. Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure, whereas coal is an organic sedimentary rock formed from decomposed plant material.

Question 8

Which of the following is a metallic mineral resource?

Accepted Answer

Aluminum is a metallic mineral resource, while gypsum, phosphate, and gravel are non-metallic mineral resources.

Question 9

The ability of a metal to be bent,molded,and stretched is termed ________.

Accepted Answer

Malleability is the term used to describe the ability of a metal to be molded or shaped through bending and stretching without breaking. Tempering and cold working refer to specific processes used to strengthen metals, while dexterity is a term more commonly used in reference to manual skills and agility.

Question 10

Which of the following is an alloy?

Accepted Answer

Bronze is an alloy made up of copper and tin.

Question 11

Most of the metals currently in commercial use ________.

Accepted Answer

Most metals in commercial use today were discovered in the last two centuries due to advancements in chemistry and metallurgy, which allowed for the identification and extraction of metals not known to ancient civilizations.

Question 12

The industrial process that separates metals from ore material is known as ____________.

Accepted Answer

Smelting is the process of extracting a metal from its ore by heating beyond the melting point, followed by cooling and purification. This separates the desired metal from other elements and impurities in the ore. Quarrying is the process of extracting rock, sand, or other minerals from the ground, while mountaintop removal mining involves removing the top of a mountain to access coal or other minerals. Ore processing refers to any process that transforms ore into a useful commodity. However, smelting is specifically the process of separating metals from their ore through heat and purification.

Question 13

The high electrical conductivity associated with metallic bonds is found in ________.

Accepted Answer

The high electrical conductivity associated with metallic bonds is found in native metals (metals occurring in their elemental form) and pure metals artificially derived from ores.

Question 14

The first widely used alloy in ancient civilizations was ________.

Accepted Answer

Bronze was the first widely used alloy in ancient civilizations, produced by combining copper with small amounts of tin to create a stronger, more durable material. Copper was also used, but it was not an alloy until it was combined with other metals. Gold was not commonly used as an alloy due to its softness, while iron was not widely used until the Iron Age.

Question 15

________is a common metallic alloy.

Accepted Answer

While copper, gold, and silver are all metals, they are not considered alloys because they are elemental metals, meaning they are made up of a single type of atom. Steel, on the other hand, is a commonly used metallic alloy made up of iron and carbon, with additional elements such as chromium or nickel added to improve its properties.

Question 16

A mineral that consists of only metal atoms is known as a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

A native metal is a mineral that consists of only metal atoms and occurs naturally in a pure form without combining with other elements. Examples include gold, silver, and copper. Option B- ore metal refers to a mineral that contains a valuable metal that can be extracted for profit, while C- industrial metal refers to metals that are commonly used in industry such as iron and aluminum. Option D- rare earth metals refer to a group of 17 elements with unique properties that are used in various applications including electronics, magnets, and batteries.

Question 17

Some metals are considered precious metals because of their ________.

Accepted Answer

Precious metals are typically defined as rare and valuable, which is reflected in their high price per ounce. Examples include gold, silver, and platinum. While durability and malleability may also be desirable qualities, they do not necessarily make a metal precious. The concentration in the Earth's crust is also not a defining characteristic of precious metals.

Question 18

Which of these commonly used metals must be smelted from its ore minerals in the presence of carbon monoxide gas (from the burning of carbon-based charcoal)?

Accepted Answer

Iron must be smelted from its ore minerals in the presence of carbon monoxide gas (CO) in a process called reduction. The CO reacts with the iron oxide in the ore, reducing it to pure iron while also producing carbon dioxide gas (CO2). Aluminum, copper, and tin can be extracted through other processes such as electrolysis or by heating with other chemicals, and do not necessarily require carbon monoxide for extraction.

Question 19

A metal MUST be all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A metal MUST be all of the...

Question 20

Smelting is a technique applied to ________.

Accepted Answer

Smelting is a technique applied specifically to ore minerals, which are minerals that contain valuable metals or other elements. The purpose of smelting is to extract these metals or elements by heating the ore to a high temperature and separating them from the rest of the material. Native metals are already in their metallic form and do not require smelting, quarried stone is not related to the smelting process, and alloys are already combinations of multiple metals and do not require extraction through smelting.

Quiz 15: Riches in Rock: Mineral Resources