Question

What are the steps involved in extraction of moderately reactive metals from their ores? Give example.
[3 Marks]

Answer 1

Moderate reactive metals are extracted from their ores by two steps:
Step 1: Moderately reactive metals like Zn, Fe and Pb are converted into their oxides by calcination or roasting.
Step 2: These metal oxides are thenreduced to metal using a suitable reducing agent like carbon, carbon monoxide or hydrogen.
[2 Marks]
Example: When zinc blende (ZnS) is roasted it forms zinc oxide and sulphur dioxide gas.
The zinc oxide produced is heated in presence of carbon to form zinc metal.
[1 mark]