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GCSE Chemistry · key term
A metal-containing solution produced when soluble compounds are leached from a solid material.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.10.1.4 · Paper 2
A solution containing dissolved substances that have been washed or released from a solid material.
Revise: Alternative Metal ExtractionBioleaching uses bacteria to help release copper compounds from low-grade ore or copper-containing waste. This produces a leachate: a solution containing dissolved copper compounds.
Specification 4.8 · Paper 1
Do not confuse the two routes: phytoextraction uses plants and produces metal-rich ash; bioleaching uses bacteria and produces a leachate containing metal ions.
Keep the methods distinct: plants absorb metal ions in phytoextraction; bacteria help release metal compounds into a leachate in bacterial extraction.
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A solution containing metal ions that have been dissolved out of an ore or metal-rich material.
Water carries these ions into a leachate, which can be collected.
Specification C6.1c · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
A solution containing metal compounds released from an ore during leaching.
Revise: Biological Extraction MethodsThe copper-containing solution is called a leachate. It can be collected and processed to obtain copper metal. For example, iron can displace copper from a suitable solution because iron is more reactive than copper; electrolysis is another option.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
Revise: Biological metal extractionSuitable bacteria act on metal compounds in low-grade ore or mining waste. Their activity helps convert the metal compounds into soluble forms, producing a metal-containing solution called a leachate.