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21.13A: The Metal

  • Page ID
    34472
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    Occurrence and extraction of zinc from zinc blende

    Zinc occurs only in combined state. The important ores of zinc are zinc blende (Zns), calamine etc. These two are the important ores for the extraction of zinc.

    Extraction

    Zinc blende is crushed, concentrated and heated in air.

    \[2ZnS + 3O_2 \rightarrow 2ZnO + 2SO_2\]

    Zinc oxide formed above is mixed with coke in a fireclay retort. It is fitted with a condenser. The metal distills and condenses in the retort. The metal obtained is purified by electrolysis.

    \[ZnO (s) + C (s) \rightarrow Zn + CO(g)\]


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