Question

Carbonate and sulphide ores are usually converted into oxides during the process of extraction of metals. Give reason

Answer 1

Answer: Obtaining a metal from its oxide is much easier than doing that from a metal sulphide or carbonate. Due to this; metal sulphides and carbonates are first converted to metal oxides during metallurgy.

Answer 2

The reason for converting the ores of carbonates and sulphides into oxides for extraction of metals is because it is easier to extract metals in the oxide form.

The metals form very week ionic bonds or interactions with oxygen ion as compared to sulphur or carbonate ions which are relatively softer.

Heating of oxide ores in presence of carbon is the easiest and cheapest way to extract metals followed by refining and purification.