WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT

$ More than eighty of elements in the periodic table are metals.

$ Metals form compounds easily as they are highly reactive.
$ Metals exist as positive ions in their compounds.
$ Majority of the metals present in the earth's crust are compounds.
$ Conductivity of heat and electricity, metallic lustre, malleability
and ductility are some important properties of metals.
$ Metals play a vital role in our daily life because of their various
properties.
$ Many metals are essential for the sustenance of life.
$ Alloying prevents corrosion.
8
EXTRACTION OF METALS
Chapter 08
92
Chemistry
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life. Metals are found in nature either in elemental form or in the form of life. Metals are found in nature either in elemental form or in the form of life. Metals are found in nature either in elemental form or in the form of life. Metals are found in nature either in elemental form or in the form of life. Metals are found in nature either in elemental form or in the form of
compounds along with other ma compounds along with other ma compounds along with other ma compounds along with other ma compounds along with other materials terials terials terials terials. The compounds fr . The compounds fr . The compounds fr . The compounds fr . The compounds from which metals om which metals om which metals om which metals om which metals
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Extraction is done by the most simple method using the least amount of Extraction is done by the most simple method using the least amount of Extraction is done by the most simple method using the least amount of Extraction is done by the most simple method using the least amount of Extraction is done by the most simple method using the least amount of
chemi cal s chemi cal s chemi cal s chemi cal s chemi cal s. W . W . W . W . We wi l l exami ne the basi s of these pr e wi l l exami ne the basi s of these pr e wi l l exami ne the basi s of these pr e wi l l exami ne the basi s of these pr e wi l l exami ne the basi s of these processes whi ch ar ocesses whi ch ar ocesses whi ch ar ocesses whi ch ar ocesses whi ch are ee ee
industrially and economically bene industrially and economically bene industrially and economically bene industrially and economically bene industrially and economically beneficial to us ficial to us ficial to us ficial to us ficial to us. .. ..
M MM MMost metals are seen in nature as
compounds. Can you say why? The least
reactive metals like gold, silver and platinum
occur in the free state. Metals form
compounds with electronegative elements or
their radicals.
Note the name and composition of some
metallic compounds given below. (Table 8.1).
Metallic compounds occur in the earth's
crust as minerals. Some examples for minerals
are given in table 8.1.
Many minerals contain the same metal.
Find out the oxidation state of the metal in
each compound. These metallic ions are to be
reduced in order to get pure metals from their
compounds. But the process of producing
pure metal from minerals is not very easy.
Minerals which are used for the commercial
production of metals are called ores.
On the basis of the availability of the ore,
quantity of the metal contained in the ore and
the simplicity of the method of production, the
ore is selected.
EXTRACTION OF METALS
Standard 10
93
Extraction of Metals
Concentration of the ore
The ores obtained from the crust of earth
will contain gravel, sand and earthy impurities.
These impurities are known as gangue. The
gangue is to be removed to get pure metal.
Depending on the nature of ore and gangue,
different methods are used for removing the
impurities. This process is known as
concentration of ores. Some important methods
used for concentration are given below:
1. Washing in a stream of water
When the density of impurities is less than
that of the ore, this method can be used. When
powdered ore is washed in a stream of water,
the floating impurities will be washed away and
the ore will remain underneath.
2. Froth floatation
If the density of the ore is less than that of
impurities this method is used. Powdered ore is
added to a mixture of pine oil and water. This is
Metal Compound Composition formula
Sodium Rock salt NaCl
Chile salt petre NaNO
3
Potassium Carnalyte KCl Mg Cl
2
.6H
2
O
Sylvin KCl
Magnesium Magnetite MgCO
3
Dolomite MgCO
3
. CaCO
3
Calcium Gypsum CaSO
4
. 2H
2
O
Lime stone/marble CaCO
3
Aluminium Bauxite Al
2
O
3
. 2H
2
O
Cryolite Na
3
AlF
6
Iron Magnetite Fe
3
O
4
Haematite Fe
2
O
3
Iron pyrites FeS
2
Copper Copper pyrites CuFeS
2
Malachite Cu(OH)
2
CuCO
3
Cuprite Cu
2
O
Zinc Zinc blende ZnS
Calamine ZnCO
3
Table 8.1
Chapter 08
94
Chemistry
stirred by a strong current of air. Pine oil forms
froth and the ore wetted by pine oil floats with it.
This can be easily removed.
concentration is known as leaching. The
following reaction shows the concentration of
bauxite.
Al
2
O
3
.2H
2
O+2NaOH 2NaAlO
2
+ 3H
2
O
Bauxite reacts with sodium hydroxide to
form sodium aluminate. Fill up the table below:
Ore Method of Expla-
concentration nation
Copper glance
Bauxite
Haematite
Zinc blende
Table 8.2
5. Roasting
The ore is crushed and heated in a strong
blast of air. The ores are converted into their
oxides. The ore is oxidised by the oxygen present
in the air.
2PbS + 3O
2
2PbO + 2SO
2
2ZnS + 3O
2
2ZnO + 2SO
2
6. Calcination
When ores such as calcium carbonate is
heated either in the absence of air or in controlled
air stream, the following reaction takes place.
CaCO
3
CaO + CO
2
Volatile impurities are removed by this
method.
Extraction of metals
Next step is the extraction the metal from
the concentrated ore. Depending on the nature
of the ores there are different methods for the
extraction of metals.
Figure 8.1
Ore
Figure 8.2
Ore +
pine oil
Air
content
Magnetic
roller
Non-
magnetic
impurities
Magnetic
ore
This method is used for the concentration
of sulphide ores.
3. Magnetic separation
I f the ore i s magneti c, i t can be
separated from the impurities by passing
through a magnetic field. The magnetic ore
is attracted towards the magnet.
4. Leaching
This method is used when the impurities
are insoluble but the ore is soluble in a solvent.
When powdered ore is added to the solvent,
the ore reacts with the solvent; but the
impurities remain unaffected. This type of
Froth
Ore
Standard 10
95
Extraction of Metals
1. Smelting
Ores after roasting or calcination is mixed
with coke or charcoal and heated strongly.
Metals like zinc, iron, nickel, lead, tin etc. are
prepared by this method.
eg: SnO
2
+C

Sn +CO
2
The ores thus obtained may still contain
certain impurities which can be removed by
adding flux. If the gangue is acidic (eg. SiO
2
)
basic flux such as lime (CaO) is used. If the
gangue is basic (eg:SeO) acidic flux (eg.SiO
2
) is
used. The flux reacts with gangue to form slag.
The slag floats over the molten metal as its density
is less than that of the molten metal.
flux + gangue

slag
CaO + SiO
2

CaSiO
3
P
4
O
10
+ 6CaO

2Ca
3
(PO
4
)
2
2. Reduction with aluminium
Metals like manganese, chromium,
vanadium etc. cannot be extracted by heating with
carbon as they form their carbides. Such metals
can be prepared by reducing their oxides with
aluminium.
Cr
2
O
3
+ 2Al

Al
2
O
3
+ 2Cr
This method can be used for preparing
metals which are less electropositive than
aluminium.
3. Reduction with Hydrogen
If other reducing agents are not effective,
hydrogen is used.
WO
3
+ 3H
2

W + 3H
2
O
Refining of metals
The metals produced by the above methods
will still contain impurities. The process of
removal of impurities from a crude metal is the
third step in the production of metals.
1. Liquation
Metals with low melting point (eg: lead, tin)
are heated on the sloping hearth of a furnace and
allowed to flow away from infusible impurities.
Figure 8.3
Furnace
Hot flame
Gas
outlet
Powdered raw metal
Hopper
Residue impurities
Slanted plane
Filter to remove solid
impurities
Refined metal
Chapter 08
96
Chemistry
2. Distillation
Volatile metals when heated strongly distil
over leaving behind the impurities (eg: mercury,
zinc).
3. Electrolysis
Highly electropositive metals are refined by
electrolysis. The metal to be refined is taken as
the anode. Any suitable substance can be used
as cathode. A compound of the metal is used as
the electrolyte. When electrolysed, pure metal
gets deposited on the cathode.
Which are the different steps involved in the
production of fine metal from its ore? Make a
note of the different methods involved in each
steps.
Extraction of aluminium
Bauxite is the ore of aluminium. It is an oxide
of aluminium. This ore is concentrated by
leaching. Which is the solvent used for the
leaching of bauxite? Write down the equation
representing the chemical change. We have seen
that the compound formed is sodium aluminate
(NaAlO
2
).
Sodium aluminate is soluble in water. This
solution is filtered off and a little aluminium
hydroxide is added. Aluminium hydroxide
precipitates out from NaAlO
2
.
NaAlO
2
+ 2H
2
O Al(OH)
3
+ NaOH
The Al(OH)
3
thus obtained is heated
strongly to get unhydrous alumina (Al
2
O
3
).
2Al(OH)
3
Al
2
O
3
+ 3H
2
O
Aluminium is obtained by the electrolysis of
alumina.
Can you say why electrolysis is used here?
Discuss with reference to the points given below:
$ Position of aluminium in the electro
chemical series.
$ Electro positive character of aluminium.
Aluminium is obtained by the electrolysis of
alumina dissolved in fused cryolite. The figure
showing the electrolysis of alumina is given below:
The chemical reaction during electrolysis is
shown below:
Al
2
O
3
2Al
3+

+ 3O
2---
Can you say which element gets deposited
in each electrode?
Figure 8.4
DC
Cathode
Anode
Electrolyte
The reactions taking place in the electrodes
in the refining of metal M is given below:
At anode M M
+
+ e
---
At cathode M
+
+ e
---
M
Prepare a note on the refining of copper in
your science diary.
Anode : impure copper
Cathode :pure copper
Electrolyte : Copper sulphate solution
Standard 10
97
Extraction of Metals
$ Which ion is attracted towards the
anode?
$ Which ion is attracted towards the
cathode? Which is the element
deposited? Write down the equation.
$ Write down the equation showing the
reaction between the carbon anode and
the oxygen liberated.
The properties and uses of aluminium are
given below. Which property is made use of in
each of the following cases? Make a note in
your Science diary.
Properties of Aluminium
$ Silvery white in colour
$ density 2.6 g/cm
3
$ comparatively less hard
$ reducing property
$ conducts heat
$ reflects heat and light
$ conducts electricity
Uses of Aluminium
$ to make utensils
$ to make automobile parts
$ to make ice cube tray
$ to make electrical wires
$ to make roofs
$ to use in reflecting telescope
$ to obtain metals from Cr
2
O
3
, Mn
2
O
3
Extraction of Iron
Iron is the most important metal among the
transition elements. Also it is the most abundantly
produced metal now a days.
What are the minerals of iron? Magnetic
substances like haematite, magnetite etc. are the
ores of iron.
Which method can be used for the
concentration of these ores? Can you give
reasons?
Iron ore is converted into iron in blast
furnace. Iron is produced by reducing Fe
2
O
3
using coke.
Carbon lining
cathode
Iron tank
Molten aluminium
oxide and cryolite
Carbon rods - anode
Molten aluminium
metal
Figure 8.5
plug
+ + + --
Chapter 08
98
Chemistry
The gangue found in iron ore is usually silica
(SiO
2
). Which flux can be used to remove this
gangue?
Write down the reaction between silica and
the flux. What is the compound formed?
The reactions taking place inside the blast
furnace are given below:
$ Which part of the blast furnace has the
highest temperature?
$ Which compound acts as the reducing
agent? How is it formed?
3Fe
2
O
3
+CO 2Fe
3
O
4
+CO
2
CaCO
3
CaO+CO
2
Fe
3
O
4
+ CO 3FeO + CO
2
C + CO
2
2CO
FeO + CO Fe + CO
2
Slag is formed
Phosphates and silicates are
converted to phosphorous and
silicon and dissolve in molten iron
2C + O
2
2CO
2000 K
500 K
1000 K
1500 K
1800 K
Region where reduction
takes place
Region where
absorption takes
place
Melting
area
Hot air blast
Hot air blast
Figure 8.6
Standard 10
99
Extraction of Metals
$ How is the ore reduced?
$ Why is lime stone added to the blast
furnace?
$ What are the gangue and flux in this
reaction?
$ Explain why phosphates and silicates
present in the ore get reduced?
The large chunks of iron obtained from the
blast furnace is called pig iron. This may contain
impurities like carbon, sulphur, phosphorous etc.
Steel
The impurities contained in pig iron are first
removed. Then the required amount of other
elements such as carbon is added to produce
different types of steel.
Analyse the following table and write a note
on the different types of steel, their structure and
uses.
Heat treatment of steel
The properties of steel with the same
composition can be varied by heating and cooling
it under certain conditions. This is knows as heat
treatment. Properties such as hardness, strength,
ductility, malleability, and ability to resist corrosion
are improved by heat treatment.
Annealing, hardening and tempering are the
important methods of heat treatment of steel. In
annealing, steel is heated until it is bright red hot
and allowed to cool slowly in air. Steel is made
soft by this method.
Hardening increases the hardness of steel.
In this method red hot steel is plunged into cold
water or oil as quickly as possible.
Hardened steel is heated again and is
allowed to cool slowly in air. This method is
called tempering.
Table 8.3
We have already learnt that besides carbon,
the presence of some other metals also has a
beneficial value. Try to recall the names of such
elements.
Compounds of some metals
Sodium chloride used for flavouring food is
quite familiar to us. We use several other
compounds of metals in our daily life. A table
showing the uses of some such compounds are
given below:
Quantity of carbon Use
Mild steel 0.05% - 0.2% To make wires, tubes,
agricultural implements, rods
Medium steel 0.21% - 0.6% To make railway tracks, girders,
plates
High carbon steel 0.61% - 1.5% To make surgical implements, springs,
knife, drill
Chapter 08
100
Chemistry
Name of the Formula Uses
compound
Common salt NaCl Used for flavouring food to make freezing
mixtures, to melt ice and snow from the roads,
to separate soap from glycerine (salting out),
in the manufacture of HCl, NaOH, Na
2
CO
3
Washing soda Na
2
CO
3
.10H
2
O Used as washing soda and in the manufacture
of caustic soda, glass etc.
Baking soda NaHCO
3
Used for making baking powder. It is also
used in portable type of fire extinguisher.
Salt peter KCl Patients suffering from hypertension can use this
in food. Also used to make potassium nitrate
Nitre KNO
3
Used to make gun powder
Marble CaCO
3
Used in the manufacture of glass, cement,
quick lime, pottery etc. as a flux in the
manufacture of iron, to make tooth paste, to
manufacture calcium.
Quick lime CaO As a flux in the extraction of metals, as a
drying agent, to make soda lime
Slaked lime Ca(OH)
2
Used for making mortar and lime plaster, to
remove acidity from soil, in the manufacture of
bleaching powder
Gypsum CaSO
4
2H
2
O Used in cement to control its setting time, as a
filler for paper industry
Plaster of Used in surgical bandages for making casts,
paris (CaSO
4
)
2
H
2
O to decorate walls and ceiling
Alum K
2
SO
4
Al
2
(SO
4
)
3
Used as a mordant, in the purification of
24H
2
O water, in foam fire extinguisher
Copper sulphate CuSO
4
.5H
2
O As a fungicide in production of Bordeaux
mixture, as an electrolyte
Zinc oxide ZnO As pigments in paints, as filler in rubber, in
cosmetic powders, creams etc.
Calamine ZnCO
3
As an ingredient of calamine lotion
Table 8.4
Standard 10
101
Extraction of Metals
Analyse the table and try to answer the
questions given below:
$ Why is sodium chloride used to melt ice
and snow from roads?
$ 2KNO
3

2KNO
2
+ O
2
Based on the above equation try to explain
why KNO
3

is used in gun powder?
$ When made into a paste with water
plaster of paris sets in a few minutes to
form a firm mass. Which use can be
related to this property of plaster of paris?
$ Add a little baking soda to dilute
hydrochloric acid. Show a glowing match
stick to the gas evolved. What do you
observe?
Carry out the following experiment and find
out which property of the compound is made
use of in the reaction
$ CaO is used in the extraction of metals.
Can you explain the chemistry behind it?
$ NaHCO
3
is used along with alum in foam
fire extinguisher. Try to explain the reason
with reference to the equation given
below:
Al
2
(SO
4
)
3
+ 3Na
2
CO
3
+ 3H
2
O

2Al(OH)
3
+ 3Na
2
SO
4
+ 3CO
2
SUMMARY
$ Ores are minerals used for industrial manufacture of metals.
$ Concentration, extraction and purification are the three stages in
production of metals.
$ Aluminium is manufactured by the electrolysis of purified bauxite
dissolved in cryolite.
$ As aluminum is relatively less heavy and is a good conductor of heat and
electricity, it has a number of uses.
$ Iron which is the most important transition element is used to make steel.
$ By adding other suitable elements to cast iron, steel is made.
$ Annealing, hardening and tempering are heat treatment used to improve
the qualities of steel.
Chapter 08
102
Chemistry
1. Alloys are more useful than pure metals.
Discuss the point with reference to steel.
2. What are the substances used in blast furnace
while iron is prepared?
3. Give two advantages of steel compared to
cast iron?
4. Prepare a table showing the uses of
aluminium and the property made use of in
each?
5. A wire fence is supported with steel poles.
Though the poles are painted every year the
bottom of it is found to have rusted
a. Which substances promote the rusting
of the iron poles?
b. How is rusting prevented by painting?
c. That part of the pole which is in
contact with the earth is found to have
rusted more. Explain the reason for
this.
d. Can you suggest some other method
to prevent rusting?
MORE ACTIVITIES FOR YOU
6. Four test tubes contain solutions and rods
as shown below:
Test tube 1 Test tube 2
Silver is placed Zinc is placed in
in zinc sulphate silver nitrate
solution solution
Test tube 3 Test tube 4
Zinc rod is Copper is placed
placed in in silver
magnesium nitrate
sulphate solution solution
In which test tube do the following changes
take place?
a. Zinc atoms pass into the solution as
zinc ions.
b. Silver ions get deposited as silver
c. No change takes place
d. Metal atoms get oxidised
e. Write down the equation showing
chemical change occurring in any one
of the test tubes.
$$$$$$