Question

Name the products obtained when Zinc blende is roasted.

Answer 1

1. Roasting

Roasting is the process of heating a concentrated ore in the presence of an excess amount of air. This technique can be used to convert sulphide ore into metal oxides. In this process, volatile impurities are expelled from the ore.

2. Roasting of Zinc blende

When Zinc blende (ZnS) is heated in the presence of an excess amount of air, Zinc oxide (ZnO) is formed and Sulphur dioxide $\left({\mathrm{SO}}_2\right)$ gas is expelled.

$$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{ZnS}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 2\mathrm{ZnO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \left(\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{sulphide}\right)\left(\mathrm{Oxygen}\right)\left(\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{oxide}\right)\left(\mathrm{Sulphur}\mathrm{dioxide}\right) \\ \left(\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{blende}\mathrm{ore}\right) \end{gathered}$$

Therefore, the products obtained when Zinc blende is roasted are Zinc oxide and Sulphur dioxide.