Question

Suggest different chemical processes used for obtaining a metal from metal oxide for metals in the middle of the reactivity series and metals towards the top of the reactivity series. Support your answer with an example of each.

Answer 1

Metals in middle of the reactivity series are found in its sulphide or corbonate ores.calcination is a process of heating the ore with limited or no supply of air.the products are metal oxide with carbon dioxide.roasting is a process of heating the ore with supply of air.products are metal oxide along with sulphur dioxide.
example :Zn
ZnCO3-->ZnO+CO2
2ZnS+3O2-->2ZnO+2SO2
metals of high reactivity are obtained using electrolysis reduction
example:NaCl-->(Na+)+(Cl-)
the metals of reactivity are found in chlorides

Answer 2

To obtain metals from its oxides one can use carbon as reducing agent, and the chemical process is known as reduction. Also, displacement reaction is used in which highly reactive metal acts as reducing agent. But for the metals of high reactivity the method of electrolytic reduction is used.

3Mno2(s) + 4Al(s) gives us 3 Mn(l) + 2Al2O3 (s) + heat