Question

Two ores A and B were taken. On heating ore A gives ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ whereas, ore B gives ${\mathrm{SO}}_2$. What steps will you take to convert them into metals?

Answer 1

Ore

• Ore is a mineral deposit in the Earth's crust that contains one or more valuable minerals.
• Copper, gold, and iron, which are crucial to commerce and trade, are found in the most valuable ore deposits.

Extraction of ore A

• On heating ore A gives carbon dioxide $\left({\mathrm{CO}}_2\right)$ gas.
• Hence it is a carbonate ore.

Steps for extraction of ore A

1. Calcination

• Calcination is the term used to describe the process of strongly heating the ore to form an oxide.
• The reaction is as follows:

${\mathrm{ACO}}_3\stackrel{∆}{\to }\mathrm{AO}+{\mathrm{CO}}_2$

2. Reduction

• The metal oxide is reduced with coke to produce metal.
• The reaction is as follows:

$\mathrm{AO}+\mathrm{C}\to \mathrm{A}+\mathrm{CO}$

Extraction of ore B

• On heating, ore B gives sulfur dioxide $\left({\mathrm{SO}}_2\right)$ gas.
• Hence it is a sulfide ore.

Steps for extraction of ore B

1. Roasting

• Roasting is a metallurgical process that involves heating ore below its melting point in the presence of excess air.
• The reaction is as follows:

$2\mathrm{BS}+3{\mathrm{O}}_2\stackrel{∆}{\to }2\mathrm{BO}+2{\mathrm{SO}}_2$

2. Reduction

• The metal oxide is reduced to metal by coke.
• The reaction is as follows:

$\mathrm{BO}+\mathrm{C}\to \mathrm{B}+\mathrm{CO}$