Question

The purpose of smelting an ore is to:

• A. Oxidise it
• B. Reduce it
• C. Obtain an alloy
• D. Separate volatile impurities

Answer 1

The correct option is B Reduce it

Smelting is a process involved in extractive metallurgy wherein heat is applied to the ore to melt out a base metal.
It is used to extract many metals from their ores, including silver, iron, copper, and other base metals.
In general, it involves heat and a chemical reducing agent to decompose the ore, driving off other elements as gases or
slag and leaving the metal base behind. The reducing agent is commonly a source of carbon, such as coke—or, in earlier times, charcoal.