Question

how is mercury extracted from sinabar

Answer 1

Extraction of Mercury. Most of the world's mercury is obtained from its main ore, cinnabar or vermillion with the chemical structure mercurysulphide (HgS). ... This ore is bright red in colour and small droplets ofmercury metal can sometimes be found within the ore itself.

Answer 2

Mercury is obtained from its sulphide ore called cinnabar, HgS which is actually mercury(ii) sulphide.

The following steps are involved in its extraction:

1. mercury ore is roasted

2HgS(s) + 3 o2 (g) -----> 2HgO (s ) + 2 SO2 (g)

2. when this mercury oxide is heated at about 300 degrees Celsius , it decomposes to form mercury metal.

2HgO (s) ------> 2Hg (l) + o2(g)