Extraction of metal from ores
Answers
Answer:
There are 3 main methods of extracting metals from their ore.
They are reduction of the ore with carbon, reduction of the molten ore by electrolysis, and reduction of the ore with a more reactive metal.
Extraction using carbon
Metals such as zinc, iron and copper are present in ores as their oxides. Each of these oxides is heated with carbon to obtain the metal.
The metal oxide loses oxygen, and is therefore reduced. The carbon gains oxygen, and is therefore oxidised.
Electrolysis
Ionic substances can be broken down into the elements they are made from by electricity, in a process called electrolysis.
For electrolysis to work, the ions must be free to move. When an ionic compound is dissolved in water, or melts the ions break free from the ionic lattice. These ions are then free to move. The solution or molten ionic compound is called an electrolyte.
During electrolysis:
Positively charged ions move to the negative electrode. Metal ions are positively charged, so metals are produced at the negative electrode (cathode).
Negatively charged ions move to the positive electrode. Non-metal ions, such as oxide ions and chloride ions, are negatively charged, so gases such as oxygen or chlorine are produced at the positive electrode (anode).
Explanation:
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There are 3 main methods of extracting metals from their ore:
- They are reduction of the ore with carbon.
- Reduction of the molten ore by electrolysis .
- and reduction of the ore with a more reactive metal.