Process of extraction of mercury from its ore with the help of balanced chemical equation
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Cinnabar (HgS) is the only important ore of Hg. It is concentrated by froth floatation method and mercury is extracted from this ore by heating it in air at 773-873 K (auto reduction).
273-873K
HgS + O2 → Hg + SO2
The mercury vapors thus obtained are condensed to give liquid metal. Hg thus obtained contains impurities of Zn, Sn and Pb. These are removed by treating the impure metal with dil HNO3, mercurous nitrate, Hg2(NO3 )2 thus formed react with metals present as impurities forming their nitrates which pass into solution leaving behind pure mercury. However, it is best purified by distillation under reduced pressure.
warm
6Hg + 8HNO3 (dil. ) → 3 Hg ( NO3 )2 + 4H2O + 2NO
Zn + Hg2 ( NO3 )2 → Zn ( NO3 )2 + 2Hg
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