Sun Metals Zinc Refinery

Overview
1. In what sequence and in which plants are the unwanted elements removed?

The Roasting Process
1. The zinc in the concentrate is mostly in what form?
2. Write a chemical equation for the reaction in the roasting plant.
3. Assign oxidation numbers to this equation.
4. Identify what is oxidized, what is reduced, the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in this equation.
5. What are the two end products of roasting?
6. In what forms is zinc in the calcine?

The Leaching Process
1. What element is removed during the leaching process?
2. Write a chemical equation for the zinc reaction in the leaching plant.
3. Assign oxidation numbers to this equation.
4. Identify what is oxidized, what is reduced, the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in this equation.
5. As more and more zinc oxide reacts with the sulphuric acid in the leaching process, the pH increases (as the
sulphuric acid is used up). What happens at pH3.7? What has happened to the Fe
2+
?
6. What is neutralized solution?
7. By what process is the iron and silica particles removed?

The Purification Process
1. Write the equation for the removal of copper/cadmium/cobalt/nickel and explain why this works.
2. Choose one of the metals above and write the balanced half-reactions for this reaction.
3. What type of reaction is this? (Besides redox )
4. How are the solid trace metals then removed from the solution?
5. Calcium is removed in a different way explain.
6. Write an equation for the precipitation of calcium.

The Electrolysis Process
1. Why must the other metals be removed before the zinc is electrolyzed?
2. Draw a diagram of the cell used in this process. Label the power source, flow of electrons, positive and negative
electrodes, anode, cathode, site of oxidation and reduction and electrolyte.
3. Add the appropriate half-equations to the diagram then write the complete equation underneath.
4. What is spent solution and where does it go?


TASK 2 Redox Reactions

Remember the practical last week?
The table below shows the results of an experiment in which a piece of each type of metal was placed in different
solutions of metal ions. Whether a reaction occurred is represented by a or .

Ag(s) Cu(s) Pb(s) Zn(s)
Ag
+

Cu
2+

Pb
2+

Zn
2+



1. Write oxidation and reduction half reactions for test that reacted.
2. List the metals in order of best to worst reducing agent.
3. Explain your answer.