Occurrence of Metals: Major source is earth’s crust.

Minerals: The elements or compounds which occur naturally in the earth’s crust.
Ore- Those minerals from which the metals can be extracted conveniently and profitably.
Note:-All ores are minerals but all minerals are not ore.
Extraction of Metals: To obtain a metal from its ore.
Metallurgy- The various processes involved in the extraction of metals from their ores and refining.
Gangue: The unwanted impurities like sand, rocky material present in an ore.
-Three major steps involved in the extraction of a metal from its ore:
1) Concentration of ore (Enrichment):- Removal of gangue from the ore. The process used
for enrichment of ore is based on the difference between physical or chemical properties of the
ore and the gangue.
2) Conversion of concentrated ore into metal:- For this purpose, metals are grouped into
following three categories:
a) Metals of high reactivity.
b) Metals of moderate reactivity
c) Metals of low reactivity
a) Extraction of highly reactive metals – e.g. K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al.
Method: Electrolytic reduction of molten chlorides or oxides of metals.
Electrolysis of molten metal chloride: At cathode – Metal is produced, at anode – chlorine gas is
produced.
Electrolysis of molten metal oxide: At cathode – Metal is produced, at anode – oxygen gas is
produced.
e.g.-Extraction of sodium metal from molten sodium chloride
2NaCl (l) 2 Na (s) + Cl2 (g)
At cathode: 2 Na+ + 2e - 🡪 2 Na
At anode: 2Cl- - 2e - 🡪 Cl2
b) Extraction of moderately reactive metals – e.g. Zn, Fe, Sn,Pb.
Method:-Reduction of metal oxides by using suitable reducing agents such as C.
Note: It is easier to obtain metal from its oxides as compared to its sulphides and carbonates.
Therefore, prior to reduction, metal sulphides and carbonates must be converted into metal oxides.
Calcination:-Process of conversion of carbonate ores into oxides by heating strongly in limited air
e.g.: ZnCO3 (s) ZnO (s) + CO2 (g)
Roasting:-Process of conversion of sulphide ore into oxide by heating strongly in the presence of
excess air.
e.g.: 2ZnS (s) + 3O2 (g) 2ZnO (s) + 2SO2 (g)
Reduction of metal oxide using suitable reducing agents:
ZnO (s) + C (s) Zn (s) + CO (g)
3 MnO2 (s) + 4 Al (s) 3 Mn (l) + 2 Al2O3 + Heat
Thermite Reaction:-
Fe2O3 (s) + 2 Al (s) 2 Fe (l) + Al2O3 + Heat
In the above reaction, heat evolved is so large that metals (Fe here) are produced in molten state. The
molten iron is then poured between broken iron pieces to weld them.
c) Extraction of less reactive metals – e.g. Hg, Cu.
Extraction of Hg:-
2HgS (s) +3 O2 (g) 2HgO (s) + 2 SO2 (g)
(Cinnabar ore)

2HgO (s) 2 Hg (l) + O2 (g)

Extraction of Cu:-
2 Cu2S + 3 O2 (g) 2 Cu2O (s) + 2 SO2 (g)
(Copper glance)
2 Cu2O + Cu2S 6 Cu (s) + SO2 (g)
3) Refining of Metals:-
Method: Electrolytic refining
Following are the steps to refine an impure metal:
1) A thick block of the impure metal is made anode.
2) A thin strip of the pure metal is made cathode.
3) A solution of the metal salt is taken as electrolyte.
-On passing current through electrolyte:
a) Pure metal from the anode dissolves into electrolyte.
b) An equivalent amount of pure metal from the electrolyte is deposited on the cathode.
c) The soluble impurities go into the solution whereas the insoluble impurities settle down at the
bottom on anode and are known as ‘anode mud’.
e.g.: Refining of copper
Note: Draw diagram for refining of copper from NCERT Page no. 52