Question

Chemical used to remove impurities from ore is called

• A. gangue
• B. mineral
• C. flux
• D. slag

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

In the context of metallurgy, the process of extracting and purifying metals from ores involves several steps. An important component in this process is dealing with impurities. The substance used to remove or mitigate these impurities is known as flux.

Let's examine the provided options:

• Gangue: This term refers to the worthless minerals or earthy substances that surround or are closely mixed with the valuable ore. It is not used to remove impurities.
• Mineral: This is a naturally occurring substance that is typically solid and inorganic, with a distinct chemical composition. Minerals are the source materials for metals, not a means to remove impurities.
• Flux: Flux is a chemical cleaning agent. It is used to bind with impurities and form a slag that can be easily removed from the molten metal, thus purifying the ore.
• Slag: This is the by-product formed after a flux has reacted with impurities. It is not used for removing impurities but is the result of their removal.

Therefore, the correct answer is flux.

Answer 2

A flux is a chemical substance used during the extraction of metals to remove impurities (known as gangue) from the ore. The flux reacts with the gangue to form an easily removable compound called slag.
Flux helps in purifying the ore by forming slag with the impurities.