Zinc occurs mostly as sulfide ores. It is then heated to produce zinc oxide. Using your knowledge of the reactivity series and oxidation/reduction, explain how zinc can be extracted from zinc oxide and predict the products of the process.
Question
Zinc occurs mostly as sulfide ores. It is then heated to produce zinc oxide. Using your knowledge of the reactivity series and oxidation/reduction, explain how zinc can be extracted from zinc oxide and predict the products of the process.
Solution
Zinc can be extracted from zinc oxide through a process called reduction. This process involves the gain of electrons or the loss of oxygen. In the reactivity series, zinc is located below carbon, which means zinc oxide can be reduced by carbon. This is because carbon is more reactive and can displace zinc from its oxide.
Here are the steps:
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Zinc oxide is mixed with powdered coke (carbon) and heated at high temperatures. This is done in a furnace.
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The carbon (or coke) reacts with the oxygen in the zinc oxide to form carbon dioxide. This is an oxidation reaction because carbon gains oxygen.
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The loss of oxygen from zinc oxide results in the formation of zinc. This is a reduction reaction because zinc oxide loses oxygen.
The chemical equation for this process is:
ZnO + C -> Zn + CO2
So, the products of this process are zinc and carbon dioxide.
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