Question

Write the steps involved in extraction of pure metals in the middle of the activity series form their carbonate ores .Why carbon is not used to reduced high reactivity metal

Answer 1

i) If the metal is found in the form of sulphides,.. They are roasted (roasting is the process of heating[less than the melting point of metal] metals sulphides  (metal sulphides) to remove sulphur gas from the metal,. and the metal is converted to metal oxide as a step of purification ),. and reduced to oxide form,.

Eg: copper is found as copper sulphide so, they are roasted to form copper oxide,.



ii) If the metal is found in the form of carbonates,.. They are calcinated (calcination is the process of heating metal carbonates just below the melting point , in limited supply (or no supply) of oxygen to get metal oxide as a step of purification),.

Eg: Zinc is found as Zinc carbonate,..It is calcinated to form Zinc carbonate,.



iii) Then,they are reduced from metal oxide form to pure metal by, using suitable methods(it differs to each type of metal)

Eg:ZnO(s)+C(s)-->Zn(s)+CO(g)






where as the second one why c is not used to reduce high reactive metals is The question itself has the answerReactivity.

The reactivity of highly active metals (examples: Magnesium, Aluminium) are higher than Carbon. Hence, C could not react with O in the metal oxides to form carbon oxides. This eliminates the chance of reducing highly active metals with Carbon.

Answer 2

Here is the steps involved in the extraction of pure metal in the middle of the activity series from their carbonate ores.

1) Convert it into metal oxide by heating it in the presence of limited oxygen.

2) Adding coke or carbon convert it into it's pure state by heating.

Hope this helps you!!!