GENERAL PRINCIPLES

AND PROCESSES OF
ISOLATION OF
ELEMENTS (contd.)
CONVERSION OF ORE INTO IT’S OXIDE

CALCINATION ROASTING

 1) Heating the ore in the

 1)Heating the ore in the
absence of oxygen. presence of oxygen.
 2) Used when the ore contains
 2) When ore does not contain
oxygen. oxygen.
 3) Eg. CaCO3 , ZnO
 3) Eg. ZnS , PbS.
 EXAMPLES
CALCINATION
ROASTING

 On heating ,the volatile

 Ore is heated in regular
matter escapes, leaving supply of oxygen
behind the metal oxide

 If the ore contains iron,

then it slags off as iron
silicate
REDUCTION OF THE OXIDE TO METAL

Thermodynamic Process

Electrochemical Process
USE OF THERMODYNAMICS
IN EXTRACTION

TO DECIDE THE

❶ REDUCING
AGENT.

TO DECIDE THE

❷ TEMPERATURE.
GIBB’S FREE ENERGY (∆G)

∆G =∆H − T∆S ∆G = −RTln K

H=enthalpy T= temperature
S=entropy K= equilibrium
constant

Reaction will occur at

a temperatue when ∆G Reaction will be
of the reaction is spontaneous when
negative. K is positive .
Ellingham Diagram

Helps to decide the temperature.

Useful for predicting the reducing

agent in the reduction of ores.
 Ellingham Diagram
Ellingham diagram consists of plots of
gibbs energy v/s T for the formation of
some oxides.

Each plot is a straight line except when

some change in phase takes place.
ELLINGHAM DIAGRAM
Plot of gibbs energy v/s T for the formation of some oxides

Eg. Above 1073 K

(approx.), coke will
reduce FeO, and will
be oxidised to CO.

At the point of
intersection of Al2O3
and MgO curves ΔG
becomes zero for the
reaction 2/3 Al2O3 +Mg
→2MgO +4/3Al

Below that point

magnesium can
reduce alumina.
 LIMITATIONS

Does not give an idea about the kinetics of

the reactions

Presumes that reactants and the products

are in equilibrium which is not always
true.
APPLICATION OF THERMODYNAMIC
PRINCIPLES

 Extraction of Iron
 Extraction of Copper
 Extraction of Zinc
 EXTRACTION OF IRON
Reactions in Blast Furnance

 Thereactions taking place in the lower

temperature range (500 − 800 K) are:
3Fe2O3 + CO → 2Fe3O4 +CO2
2Fe3O4 + 4 CO → 3 Fe+ 4 CO2
Fe2O3 + CO → 2 FeO + CO2
 Thereactions taking place in the higher
temperature range (900 − 1500 K) are:
C + CO2 → 2CO
FeO + CO → Fe + CO2
 The silicate impurity of the ore is
removed as slag by calcium oxide
(CaO), which is formed by the
decomposition of limestone (CaCO3).
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
CaO +SiO2 → CaSiO3
Calcium silicate (slag)
 EXTRACTION OF COPPER FROM CUPROUS OXIDE
(CU2O)

 As ΔG (C,CO) ＜ ΔG (Cu, Cu2O)

Coke will reduce Cu2O

(From Ellingham diagram)
2 Cu2S + 3O2 → 2Cu2O + 2SO2
 The sulphide ores are roasted/smelted to give oxides
 Then, coke can be used for reducing the oxide metallic copper
Cu2O + C → 2Cu + CO
 Iron slags off as iron silicate, and copper is formed as
copper matte (containing Cu2S and FeS).

 Copper matte is put in a silica-lined convertor to remove

remaining FeO and FeS by converting it into iron silicate
(FeSiO3), and Cu2S is converted into metallic copper.

 Copper is obtained as blister copper.

EXTRACTION OF ZINC FROM ZINC OXIDE

  Coke

is used as reducing agent.

ZnO + C Zn + CO

 The obtained metal is distilled off and

collected by rapid chilling.
 ELECTROCHEMICAL PRINCIPLES OF
METALLURGY

 Metals can be obtained by the reduction of

metal ions in solution or molten state.
 ∆G = -nFE
reaction is feasible if ∆G is negative .
 Less reactive metal comes out of solution
and more reactive metal enters solution.
 METALLURGY OF ALUMINIUM

 By electrolysis - Hall−Heroult process.

At Cathode: Al3+ (melt) +3e-→ Al (l)

At Anode: C(s) + O2- → CO(g) + 2e-

C(s) + 2O2- → CO2(g) + 4e-
Overall reaction
2Al2O3 +3C → 4Al +3CO2
 Na3AlF6 or CaF2 (cryolite) added to
 lower the melting point of the mix
 increase the conductivity .
EXTRACTION OF COPPER FROM LOW-GRADE
ORES AND SCRAPS - hydrometallurgy.

 Ore is leached out using acid or bacteria.

 Then, Cu2+ ion is reduced by treating Cu2+
solution with scrap iron or H2.
Cu2+(aq) + H2(g) → Cu (s) + 2H+ (aq)

 Goldand Silver are leached with NaCN or

KCN, which is an oxidation reaction.