Smelting
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Smelting is a process for extracting metals by heating and melting a mineral with carbon to cause a displacement reaction.
About Smelting
- Any metal below Carbon on the Reactivity Series can be extracted from its by smelting with Carbon.
- When the ore is melted it Carbon is added and a displacement reaction happens where the Carbon replaces the metal in the mineral.
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| The Carbon reacts with the mineral in a displacement reaction creating usually producing Carbon Dioxide and the pure metal which is removed from the furnace. Any impurities in the mineral rise to the top and make a layer called slag which is removed. |
Example Reactions
- Iron Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Iron
- Zinc Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Zinc
- Tin Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Tin
- Lead Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Lead
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Smelting is a process for extracting metals by heating and melting a mineral with carbon to cause a displacement reaction.
About Smelting
- Any metal below Carbon on the Reactivity Series can be extracted from its by smelting with Carbon.
- When an ore containing a metal oxide is melted Carbon is added and a displacement reaction happens where the Carbon replaces the metal in the mineral.
- When an ore containing a metal carbonate a displacement reaction and a thermal decomposition reaction take place.
- Smelting requires a lot of energy to heat the mineral beyond its melting point so it can be expensive to carry out.
Example Reactions
Iron Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Iron
- <chem>2Fe2O3 + 3C -> 3CO2 + 4Fe</chem>
Zinc Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Zinc
- <chem>2ZnO + C -> CO2 + 2Zn</chem>
Tin Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Tin
- <chem>SnO2 + C -> CO2 + Sn</chem>
Lead Oxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Lead
- <Chem>2PbO + C -> CO2 + 2Pb</chem>
Zinc Carbonate + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Zinc
- <chem>2ZnCO3 + C -> 3CO2 + 2Zn</chem>
Copper Carbonate Hydroxide + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Copper
- <chem>Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 + C -> 2CO2 + H2O + 2Cu</chem>