Question

Name the ore of zinc containing its sulfide.

Answer 1

• Zinc blende (ZnS) is the ore that contains its sulfide.
• It is never found in its elemental form.
• It is also called sphalerite

Extraction of Zinc from Zinc blende

1. Roasting: Zinc blende is heated in the presence of excess air. This converts zinc sulphide ore to zinc oxide.
   The reaction involved is:
   $2\mathrm{ZnS}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\stackrel{\mathrm{Roasting}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{surplus}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{air}}{\to }2\mathrm{ZnO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
2. Reduction: Zinc oxide is then reduced by coke (carbon).
   $\mathrm{ZnO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\mathrm{C}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\stackrel{\mathrm{Reduction}}{\to }\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

Hence, The answer is Zinc blende.