Question

Which among the following is a chemical method of concentration of ores?

• A. Magnetic separation
• B. Leaching
• C. Gravity separation
• D. Froth floatation

Answer 1

The correct option is B Leaching

The concentration of ores is divided into two classifications: physical methods and chemical methods.

Under physical methods we have:

1. Magnetic separation, which uses the magnetic properties of the ore and the impurities to separate them.
2. Gravity separation, which uses the density differences of the ore and the impurities to separate them.
3. Froth floatation, which uses the preferential wettability properties of the ore and its impurities to separate them.

Under chemical methods we have:

1. Leaching, in which the ore is treated with a suitable reagent such that the ore is soluble in it but the impurities are not.

Therefore leaching is the chemical method of concentration of ore.