Why is zinc not extracted from zinc oxide through reduction using CO?

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Solution

$△ G^{\circ}$ for the conversion of Zn into ZnO is - 650 KJ and for the conversion of CO into $C O_{2}$ is - 250 KJ i.e. ,
$2 Z n + O_{2} ⟶ 2 Z n O △ G^{\circ} = - 650 K J 2 C O + O_{2} ⟶ 2 C O_{2} △ G^{\circ} = - 450 K J$
For the reaction $2 Z n O + 2 C O ⟶ 2 Z n + 2 C O_{2} △ G^{\circ} = + 200 K J$ positive value of $△ G^{\circ}$ shown that the reaction is not feasible.
That's why CO cannot be used for the reduction of ZnO into Zn by Considering the Ellingham diagram.

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