Which metal cannot be extracted by hydrometallurgy, copper or zinc ?
Which metal cannot be extracted by hydrometallurgy, copper or zinc ?
Hydrometallurgy: The process of extracting useful metals from their ores is known as hydrometallurgy. Metals are extracted by first creating an aqueous solution of the metal's salt, followed by removing the metal from the solution.
The hydrometallurgy method works on the principle that metals with higher electropositive values displace metals with lower electropositive values from salt solutions. Iron sulphate is formed when iron is added to an aqueous solution of copper sulphate.
This is due to copper's lower reduction potential value compared to zinc and iron. As a result, the copper ion is displaced from its salt solution by the iron ion.
Reactive metals with lower reduction potentials than zinc, such as magnesium and potassium, are used to remove zinc from its salt solution; however, these metals are also very reactive to water and react by releasing hydrogen gas. As a result, these metals are incapable of extracting zinc from its ore.
Hydrometallurgy: The process of extracting useful metals from their ores is known as hydrometallurgy. Metals are extracted by first creating an aqueous solution of the metal's salt, followed by removing the metal from the solution.
The hydrometallurgy method works on the principle that metals with higher electropositive values displace metals with lower electropositive values from salt solutions. Iron sulphate is formed when iron is added to an aqueous solution of copper sulphate.
This is due to copper's lower reduction potential value compared to zinc and iron. As a result, the copper ion is displaced from its salt solution by the iron ion.
Reactive metals with lower reduction potentials than zinc, such as magnesium and potassium, are used to remove zinc from its salt solution; however, these metals are also very reactive to water and react by releasing hydrogen gas. As a result, these metals are incapable of extracting zinc from its ore.
