Question

Write the steps involved in the extraction of pure metals in the middle of the activity series from their carbonate ores

Answer 1

Answer:

To extract metals in the middle of the reactivity series, ... 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,.

The carbonate ores are changed into oxides by heating strongly in limited air. This process is called calcination. ZnCO_3(s) \xrightarrow {heat} ZnO(s) +CO_2 (g)ZnCO

3

(s)

heat

ZnO(s)+CO

2

(g)

The metal oxides are then reduced to the corresponding metals by using suitable reagents such as carbon. For, example, when zinc oxide is heated with carbon, it is reduced to metallic zinc.

ZnO + C \rightarrow Zn + COZnO+C→Zn+CO