Read the text then answer the questions below. How long ago a metal was first discovered and used can be partly explained by the metal's reactivity. Gold and silver are the least reactive metals. They have been used for thousands of years as they are both found in their pure state, uncombined with other elements. Copper is easily extracted by just heating the ore, and so has been used since 3200 BCE. Other less reactive metals like tin, lead and iron are extracted by heating their ores with charcoal. Pure metals are usually quite soft. The Bronze Age began when copper and tin were mixed to make the much harder bronze. The more reactive a metal, the higher the temperature needed to extract it. Therefore iron is harder to extract than copper and tin, and was not used until about 1000 BCE. It was then discovered that putting red-hot iron into cold water made the iron much stronger and sharper, so iron became the metal of choice, making far superior tools and weapons. The hardest ores to break down are those of the most reactive metals. Magnesium, aluminium and sodium can only be extracted by using electricity. These metals were not produced in large quantities until the twentieth century. 1 Why was gold one of the first metals used by people? The earliest metals were often only used for decoration. Why were they not used for tools? 3 Why was copper extracted from its ore before tin or lead? 4 Explain why the Bronze Age was before the Iron Age.

Chemistry: Principles and Practice
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ISBN:9780534420123
Author:Daniel L. Reger, Scott R. Goode, David W. Ball, Edward Mercer
Publisher:Daniel L. Reger, Scott R. Goode, David W. Ball, Edward Mercer
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Read the text then answer the questions below.
How long ago a metal was first discovered and used can be partly explained by the metal's reactivity. Gold
and silver are the least reactive metals. They have been used for thousands of years as they are both
found in their pure state, uncombined with other elements. Copper is easily extracted by just heating the
ore, and so has been used since 3200 BCE. Other less reactive metals like tin, lead and iron are extracted
by heating their ores with charcoal. Pure metals are usually quite soft. The Bronze Age began when
copper and tin were mixed to make the much harder bronze.
The more reactive a metal, the higher the temperature needed to extract it. Therefore iron is harder to
extract than copper and tin, and was not used until about 1000 BCE. It was then discovered that putting
red-hot iron into cold water made the iron much stronger and sharper, so iron became the metal of choice,
making far superior tools and weapons.
The hardest ores to break down are those of the most reactive metals. Magnesium, aluminium and
sodium can only be extracted by using electricity. These metals were not produced in large quantities until
the twentieth century.
1
Why was gold one of the first metals used by people?
2
The earliest metals were often only used for decoration. Why were they not used for tools?
3
Why was copper extracted from its ore before tin or lead?
Explain why the Bronze Age was before the Iron Age.
Transcribed Image Text:Read the text then answer the questions below. How long ago a metal was first discovered and used can be partly explained by the metal's reactivity. Gold and silver are the least reactive metals. They have been used for thousands of years as they are both found in their pure state, uncombined with other elements. Copper is easily extracted by just heating the ore, and so has been used since 3200 BCE. Other less reactive metals like tin, lead and iron are extracted by heating their ores with charcoal. Pure metals are usually quite soft. The Bronze Age began when copper and tin were mixed to make the much harder bronze. The more reactive a metal, the higher the temperature needed to extract it. Therefore iron is harder to extract than copper and tin, and was not used until about 1000 BCE. It was then discovered that putting red-hot iron into cold water made the iron much stronger and sharper, so iron became the metal of choice, making far superior tools and weapons. The hardest ores to break down are those of the most reactive metals. Magnesium, aluminium and sodium can only be extracted by using electricity. These metals were not produced in large quantities until the twentieth century. 1 Why was gold one of the first metals used by people? 2 The earliest metals were often only used for decoration. Why were they not used for tools? 3 Why was copper extracted from its ore before tin or lead? Explain why the Bronze Age was before the Iron Age.
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