METALLURGY

MINERALS & ORES

MINERAL: The compounds of various metals found in nature
associated with their earthly impurities are called - minerals.

ORES: The naturally occurring minerals from which metals

can be extracted profitably and conveniently are called
-Ores.
METALLURGY
METALLURGY: The large scale processes involved
in the extraction of pure metals from their
respective ores is called - metallurgy.
MATRIX: (GANGUE)

The rocky impurities including silica [SiO2] , mud etc associated with the ore
is called matrix or gangue.

FLUX:

The substance added to the ore to get rid of the matrix resulting in the
formation of a fusible compound slag.
ORES OF ALUMINIUM
COMMON NAME CHEMICAL NAME FORMULA

Bauxite [main ore] Hydrated aluminium Al2O3.2H2O

oxide

Cryolite Sodium aluminium Na3AlF6

fluoride

Corundum Aluminium Oxide Al2O3

ORES OF ZINC

COMMON NAME CHEMICAL NAME FORMULA

Zinc blende Zinc sulphide ZnS

Calamine Zinc carbonate ZnCO3

Zincite Zinc Oxide ZnO

ORES OF IRON

COMMON NAME CHEMICAL NAME FORMULA

Haematite Iron[III] oxide Fe2O3

Magnetite Tri iron tetraoxide Fe3O4

Iron pyrites Iron disulphide FeS2

Spathic iron ores Iron[II] carbonate FeCO3

EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM
Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust.

It does not occur in the free state. Since it is a reactive metal.

Chief ore of aluminium is bauxite.

The conversion of impure Bauxite to pure Alumina is called

BAEYER’S PROCESS.
BAEYER’S PROCESS
● CONVERSION OF IMPURE BAUXITE TO SODIUM ALUMINATE

150 - 200 C
Al2O3.2H2O + 2NaOH 2NaAlO2 + 3H2O
[Impure bauxite] [conc.soln] [sodium aluminate]

Amphoteric oxide Base Salt Water

● CONVERSION OF SODIUM ALUMINATE
TO ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDE
50-60 C
NaAlO2 + 2H2O NaOH + Al(OH)3
[sodium aluminate] [sodium hydroxide] [aluminium hydroxide]
CONVERSION OF Al(OH)3 TO PURE
ALUMINA
1100 C
2Al(OH)3 Al2O3 + 3H2O
[aluminium hydroxide] [pure alumina]
HALL HEROULT’S PROCESS
HALL HEROULT’S PROCESS

ELECTROLYTE
1. Fused alumina
2. Cryolite
3. Fluorspar
ELECTROLYTIC CELL
Rectangular steel tank with carbon lining

CATHODE: Carbon lining [gas carbon] of the cell.

ANODE: Thick carbon rods [graphite]

ELECTROLYTIC REACTION
DISSOCIATION REACTION

Cryolite: Na3AlF6 ⇌ 3Na1+ + Al3+ +6F1-

Fluorspar : CaF2 ⇌ Ca2+ 2F1-
Alumina : Al2O3 ⇌ 2Al3+ + 3O2-
CATHODE REACTION:
2Al3+ + 6e- 2Al
ANODE REACTION:
3O2- - 6e- 3[O]
3[O] + 3[O] 3O2
ALLOYS
Alloy is a substance prepared by adding other
metals [ or nonmetals] to a base metal in
appropriate proportions to obtain certain
desirable properties.
ALLOYS OF ALUMINIUM

NAME CONSTITUENTS

DURALUMIN Al , Mg , Mn , Cu

MAGNALIUM Al , Mg
DURALUMIN
PROPERTY: Imparts lightness and strength
USES : Aircrafts , light tools , ships
MAGNALIUM
PROPERTY : Light , strong , corrosion resistant
USES: Aircrafts , beams of a balance