Question

Which metal is refined by the Mond process?

Answer 1

1. Mond process is the technique of refining Nickel which is an example of vapor phase refining.
2. In the vapor phase refining metals are converted to their volatile compounds where the impurities remain unaffected during the formation of compounds.
3. Metal can easily be recovered as the volatile compounds are easily decomposable.
4. Mond process is the method in which Nickel is heated in steam of Carbon monoxide to form a volatile complex of Nickel tetracarbonyl.
5. Then it is subjected to a high temperature $450-470\mathrm{K}$ where Carbon monoxide undergoes thermal decomposition to give pure Metal. $$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Ni}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+4\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\stackrel{330-350\mathrm{K}}{\to }\mathrm{Ni}{\left(\mathrm{CO}\right)}_4\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\stackrel{450-470\mathrm{K}}{\to }\mathrm{Ni}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+4\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Impure}\mathrm{Carbonmonoxide}\mathrm{Nickeltetracarbonyl}\mathrm{Pure}\mathrm{Nickel} \end{gathered}$$
6. Nickel is refined by the Mond process.