Chapter 8

M ETH O D S O F
EX TR A C TIO N

Steps involved in extraction

Concentration of ore

Reactivity series ofm etals

P rin cip le in volved in

extraction
Most elements do not occur as separate

substances but exist naturally as compounds.

Metals tend to exist as metal oxides as part of
ores which are excavated from the earth.
To recover the metal from its oxide the metal
ion is split from the oxygen ion.
Metals high up on the activity series have
more stable oxides than those lower down and
due to this are more difficult to split up than
those lower down.

C on cen tration of th e ore

Concentration or Dressing of Ores
The ores obtained from the earth contain

large quantities of foreign matter.

These unwanted impurities, e.g. earth
particles, rocky matter, sand limestone etc.
present in an ore are called gangue or matrix.
Before extraction of the metal the ore is
separate from the gangue.
The process of removal of gangue from the
ore is known as concentration or ore dressing
and the purified ore is known as concentrate.

M ETH O D S O F
C O N C EN TR ATIO N
Depending on the difference in

physical properties of metal and that

of the gangue.
1) Hydraulic washing
2) Froth flotation
3) Magnetic separation
4) Leaching.

H yd rau lic w ash in g O R

G ravity sep aration .
PRINCIPLE
Difference in the gravities of ore and

gangue.

H Y D R A U LIC W A S H IN G
O R E IS H EAV IER TH A N TH E G A N G U E.

PROCEDURE
If an ore is heavier or
denser than the
gangue, then the
gangue particles are
washed away with the
stream. The heavier
or denser ore
particles remain
behind and can be
collected. Used for tin or lead, as they
are heavier than the
gangue.

FRO TH FLO TATIO N

For rem ovalofgangue for sulphide ores.

Principle
Mineral particles are wetted by oil

while the impurities are wetted by

water.

Froth fl
otation
For sulphide ores ZnS,PbS
PROCEDURE
*The crushed ore along with
water (slurry) is taken in a
floatation cell.
*Various substances
(additive) like pine oil are
added and a current of air is
blown under pressure.
*The bubble-particle
aggregates float to the
surface of the suspension
where a mineral-laden froth
forms.
* The impurities are wetted
by water and settle at the
bottom.

M AG N ETIC SEPARATIO N
PRINCIPLE
Difference in the magnetic property

of ore components and gangue.

LEACH IN G
PRINCIPLE
Ore is soluble in some solvent while

impurities are insoluble.

LEACH IN G .

PROCEDURE
*

The impure ore is

treated with a certain
reagent in which it
dissolves while
impurities are insoluble.
The mixture is filtered
and ore extracted.

EXTRACTIO N O F M ETAL
FRO M CO N CEN TRATED O RE.
1) Conversion of ore into its oxide

Oxides are a easier to reduce

.
2) Reduction of oxide to metal.

C O N V ER SIO N O F O R E IN TO ITS
O X ID E
CALCINATION

1) heating the ore in

the absence of
oxygen.
2) Used when the ore
contains oxygen.
3) eg CaCO3 , ZnO

ROASTING

1)Heating the ore in

the presence of
oxygen.
2) When ore does not
contain oxygen.
3) ZnS , PbS.

CALCIN ATIO N
On heating the volatile matter

escapes leaving behind the metal

oxide
1) rxns pg 150

RO ASTIN G
Ore is heated in regular supply of

oxygen.
1) 2 ZnS + 3O 2 2ZnO + 2 SO 2 .

Rxn pg 151

ELLIN G H A M D IA G R A M
It is the graphical representation

showing the variation of Gibbs free

energy with variation of temperature
for the formation of oxides ( i.e.
oxidation of metal to its oxide).
Helps to decide the temperature

ELLIN G H AM D IAG RAM

diagram

TH ERM O DYN AM ICAL PRO CESS