Isolation PDF
Isolation PDF
Isolation PDF
Ores of a metal are minerals which are used as source of that metal profitably.
Aluminium is the most abundant metal and the oxygen is most abundant element
in the earths crust. Iron is the second most abundant metal in the earths crust. Silver,
gold, Platinum, sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen are the elements that occur in native or free state.
Many gem-stones are impure form of Al2O3, the impurities range from Cr (in ruby)
to Co (in sapphire). [For principal ores of Al, Fe, Cu and Zn, please refer Table 6.1 in the NCERT
Text Book Part I, Class XII, Page 148]. Concentration of ores depends upon the difference in
physical properties of the compound of metal present and that of the gangue.
Forth floation process is used for the concentration of sulphide ores. A suspension of
powdered ore is made with water. To it collectors (e.g. pine oils, fatty acids, xanthates etc.) and
froth stabilisers (e.g., cresols, aniline which enhance the non-wettability of the mineral particles)
and froth stabilisers (e.g., cresol and aniline) which stabilise the forth) are added. Sometimes
depressants are added to separate the sulphide ores. For example, NaCN is used as a depressant
to selectively prevent ZnS from coming to froth but only allows PbS to come with froth. NaCN
forms a layer of Na2[Zn(CN)4] on the surface of ZnS that prevent it from coming to froth.
Leaching is useful in case the ore is soluble in a suitable solvent.
NaOH aq
dilution
Bauxite Al2O3 s
Na Al OH 4 aq
CO2 g
heat
Al2O3 xH 2O s
Al2O3 s
Alumina
Calcination : The hydrated or carbonate ores are heated in presence of limited supply of
air when the volatile matter escapes leaving behind the metal oxide.
Fe2O3 xH 2O
Fe2O3 s xH 2O g
ZnCO3 s
ZnO s CO2 g
(b)
Roasting : The sulphide ore is heated in a regular supply of air below the melting point
of metal to convert the metal into its oxide or sulphate. Sometimes a part of the sulphide
may act as reducing agent in the subsequent step.
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Chemistry
Chemistry
aq
Zn s
Reducing
agent
2 Au s Zn CN 4
aq
REFINING OF METALS
Distillation
Useful for low boiling metals like zinc and mercury.
Liquation
Useful for low boiling metals like tin and lead.
Electrolytic Refining
Anode : Impure metal; cathode strip of pure metal. Soluble metal salt solution is used as an
electrolyte.
A large no. of metals such as Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, Al etc. are refined by this method.
Zone Refining
Zone refining is based on the principles that impurities are more soluble in the melt than in
the solid state of metal. Pure metals are crystallised out of the melt and impurities move into
molten zone. This is used for metals of very high purity, e.g., Ge, Si, B, Ga and In.
Vapour Phase Refining
Impure metal is converted into volatile compound which is then decomposed to get pure metal
e.g. Monds process for the purification of Ni metal involves formation of Nickel carbonyl which on
further decomposition give pure nickel metal.
330 350 K
450 470 K
Ni 4CO
Ni CO 4
Ni 4CO g
Impure
metal
Vapours
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Pure
Chemistry
Tungston filament
Zr 2 I 2
ArI4
Zr
2 I2
Vessel
1800 K
impure
Deposited on Filament
Chromatographic Methods
This method is based on the principle that different components of a mixture are differently
adsorbed on a adsorbent. The adsorbed components are removed (eluted) by using suitable solvent
(elutant).
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Chemistry