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Metals in the middle of the activity series, such as iron and zinc, are generally extracted by:
Heating alone without any reducing agent
Reduction of their oxides with carbon or carbon monoxide
Electrolysis of molten salts
Displacement from aqueous solution
Reduction of their oxides with carbon or carbon monoxide
Metals in the middle of the reactivity series (e.g., Fe, Zn, Pb) are moderately reactive and exist naturally as sulfides or carbonates. These ores are first converted into oxides by roasting or calcination, followed by chemical reduction using carbon or carbon monoxide to extract the pure metal.
Metals in the middle of the reactivity series (e.g., Fe, Zn, Pb) are moderately reactive and exist naturally as sulfides or carbonates. These ores are first converted into oxides by roasting or calcination, followed by chemical reduction using carbon or carbon monoxide to extract the pure metal.
Think of it like a stronger 'thief' (carbon) snatching away a 'valuable item' (oxygen) from a 'weaker owner' (the metal), which is easier than breaking the item into pieces by force.
MR CM: Middle Reactivity = Carbon Method.
ZnO+CтЖТZn+CO
Fe2тАЛO3тАЛ+3COтЖТ2Fe+3CO2тАЛ
The principle relies on the fact that carbon is a stronger reducing agent than metals in the middle of the activity series at specific temperatures. During the smelting process, carbon (coke) removes oxygen from the metal oxide, forming carbon dioxide (CO2тАЛ) or carbon monoxide (CO) and leaving the molten metal behind.
Metals at the top (Na, K, Ca) require electrolysis as they are highly reactive.
Metals at the bottom (Au, Ag) are often found in native states.
Roasting (for sulfides) and Calcination (for carbonates) are essential pre-treatment steps.
Carbon reduction is economical and widely used in blast furnaces.
Carbon is inexpensive and easily available as coke.
The reaction is thermally efficient in industrial blast furnaces.
Cannot be used for highly reactive metals like Aluminum as they have a higher affinity for oxygen than carbon.
Produces significant greenhouse gas emissions (CO2тАЛ).
Production of Iron in Blast Furnaces.
Smelting of Zinc ores.
Option A is incorrect because metal oxides are stable and require external energy/reducing agents.
Option C is for high reactivity metals like Na, Mg, Ca which have a very high affinity for oxygen.
Option D is generally used for hydrometallurgy or purifying metals, not primary extraction of moderate reactive ores.
B is correct тАФ Metals in the middle of the reactivity series are extracted by the reduction of their metal oxides using carbon as a reducing agent.
Always remember the reactivity order: Carbon can only reduce metals below it in the series; for metals above it, use Electrolytic Reduction.