Metallurgy

• WHAT IS METALLURGY ?
• EXTRACTION OF METALS
• THE REACTIVITY SERIES
• ENRICHMENT OF ORES
• EXTRACTION OF METALS OF LOW REACTIVITY
• EXTRACTION OF METALS OF MEDIUM REACTIVITY
• EXTRACTION OF METALS OF HIGH REACTIVITY
• REFINING OF METALS
What Is Metallurgy ?

Metallurgy is defined as a process that is

used for the extraction of metals in their
pure form. The compounds of metals mixed
with soil, limestone, sand, and rocks are
known as minerals. Metals are commercially
extracted from minerals at low cost and
minimum effort. These minerals are known
as ores.
Extraction Of Metals
The process of obtaining pure metal from its ore is called extraction
of metals. Some metals are found in earth’s crust in free state while
some are found in the form of their compounds.

Thus, There are different techniques used for extraction of metals

depend upon their position in the reactivity series and is divided into
three categories :-
i. Metals of low reactivity
ii. Metals of medium reactivity
iii. Metals of high reactivity

The metals at the bottom of the reactivity series are least reactive,
so they are found in free state, e.g. gold, silver, platinum, copper etc.

The metals at the middle of the reactivity series are moderately

reactive and they are found as oxides, sulphide or carbonate in the
earth’s crust.

The metals at the top of the reactivity series are the most reactive
elements and are only found in compounds. They are never found in
their free state as they are very reactive.
The Reactivity Series

Most
Reactive Metals

Moderately
Reactive Metals

Least
Reactive Metals
Enrichment of Ores
Enrichment of Ores the removal of impurities or
gangue from ore, through various physical and
chemical processes. The technique used for a
particular ore depends on the difference in the
properties of the ore and the gangue.
In chemistry, a gangue is an undesirable substance or
impurity that surrounds the mineral in an ore deposit,
such as sand, rock, or any other material. When it
comes to mining, this mineral is very frequent.
Extraction Of Metals Of Low
Reactivity
By self-reduction- when the sulphide ores of less
electropositive metals like Hg, Pb, Cu etc., are heated in air, a part of
the ore gets converted to oxide which then reacts with the
remaining sulphide ore to give the crude metal and sulphur dioxide.
In this process, no external reducing agent is used.
1. 2HgS(Cinnabar)+3O2(g)+heat→2HgO(crude metal)+2SO2(g)
2HgO(s)+heat→2Hg(l)+O2(g)
2. Cu2S(Copperpyrite)+3O2(g)+heat→2Cu2O(s)+2SO2(g)
2Cu2O(s)+Cu2S(s)+heat→6Cu(crude metal)+SO2(g)
3. 2PbS(Galena)+3O2(g)+heat→2PbO(s)+2SO2(g)
PbS(s)+2PbO(s)→2Pb(crudemetal)+SO2(g)
Extraction of Metal of Medium
Reactivity
Calcination is a process in which ore is heated in the absence of air
or air might be supplied in limited quantity. Roasting involves
heating of ore lower than its melting point in the presence of air
or oxygen. Calcination involves thermal decomposition of
carbonate ores.
Smelting – it involves heating the roasted or calcined ore (metal
oxide) to a high temperature with a suitable reducing agent. The
crude metal is obtained in its molten state.
Fe2O3+3C(coke)→2Fe+3CO2
Aluminothermic reaction – also known as
the Goldschmidt reaction is a highly exothermic reaction in which
metal oxides usually of Fe and Cr are heated to a high
temperature with aluminium.
Fe2O3+2Al→Al2O3+2Fe+heat
Cr2O3+2Al→Al2O3+2Cr+heat
Extraction Of Metals Of High
Reactivity
Electrolytic reduction:
1. Down’s process: Molten NaCl is electrolysed in a special
apparatus.
At the cathode (reduction):
Na+(molten)+e−→Na(s)
Metal is deposited.
At the anode (oxidation):
2Cl−(molten)→Cl2(g)+2e–
Chlorine gas is liberated.
2. Hall’s process: Mixture of molten alumina and a fluoride
solvent usually cryolite, (Na3AlF6) is electrolysed.
At the cathode (reduction):
2Al3++6e–→ 2Al(s)
Metal is deposited.
At the anode (oxidation):
6O2– → 3O2(g)+12e–
Oxygen gas is liberated.
The metals at the top of the reactivity series are highly
reactive. They cannot be obtained from their compounds by
heating with carbon, because these metals have more
affinity for oxygen than carbon. Hence, for the extraction of
such metals electrolytic reduction method is used.
Refining Of Metals
Refining of metals – removing impurities or gangue from crude
metal. It is the last step in metallurgy and is based on the difference
between the properties of metal and the gangue.
Electrolytic Refining
Metals like copper, zinc, nickel, silver, tin, gold etc., are refined
electrolytically.
Anode: impure or crude metal
Cathode: a thin strip of pure metal
Electrolyte: aqueous solution of metal salt
From anode (oxidation): metal ions are released into the solution
At cathode (reduction): the equivalent amount of metal from
solution is deposited
Impurities deposit at the bottom of the anode.