Question

To which ore does calamine belong to

• A. Iron
• B. Zinc
• C. Copper
• D. Aluminium

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Zinc

The explanation for the correct option

(B) Zinc

Ore

• Ore is a mineral deposit in the Earth's crust that contains one or more valuable minerals.
• Copper, gold, and iron, which are crucial to commerce and trade, are found in the most valuable ore deposits.
• Copper(I) sulphide $\left({\mathrm{Cu}}_2\mathrm{S}\right)$, often known as chalcocite, is common copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$ ore.

Calamine

• Calamine is a zinc $\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$ ore.
• The inorganic substance zinc oxide is sometimes referred to as zinc white or calamine.
• The metallurgical technique is mostly used to generate this chemical.
• Calamine is a white substance that is odourless and insoluble in water.
• It is naturally found as the mineral zincite, which is yellow-red in colour due to the manganese $\left(\mathrm{Mn}\right)$ and other impurities it contains.
• When in crystalline form, it is thermochromic, turning from white to yellow when heated in the presence of air and back to white when cooled.
• Since it is an amphoteric oxide, it is not dissolved in water.
• In alkalis and acids, it dissolves.

The explanation for incorrect options

• Calamine is a zinc ore.
• Hence, all other options (A), (C) and (D) are incorrect.

Therefore, the correct option is (B) Zinc.