Question

explain how gold is extracted

Give answer properly and in simple language

Answer 1

Silver and gold are less reactive metals which can be extracted with the help of Leaching process. For example; Silver is extracted from its ores argentite, Ag2S or horn silver, AgCl by cyanide process. Similarly, Gold-containing ore is used to extract gold with the help of KCN solution.

Ore gets dissolved in KCN solution in the presence of air that forms a complex K[Au(CN)2] which can be further used to recover Gold metal by either precipitation or electrolytic method.