Question:

In the metallurgy of zinc, the reducing agent employed in reducing the zinc oxide to crude zinc metal in the last stage is

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Most metal oxides are reduced using carbon or CO in metallurgy.
Updated On: May 8, 2026
  • Al
  • Li
  • Coke
  • Water gas
  • H$_2$ gas
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Concept: In zinc metallurgy, zinc oxide is reduced to metallic zinc by carbon (coke) at high temperature. This is a classic example of reduction by carbon.

Step 1:
Identify the stage.
Final stage: \[ ZnO + C \rightarrow Zn + CO \]

Step 2:
Reasoning.
Carbon acts as reducing agent because:
• It removes oxygen from ZnO
• It itself gets oxidized to CO

Step 3:
Eliminate other options.
Al, Li → too reactive not used industrially
Water gas, H$_2$ → not used here

Step 4:
Final answer. \[ \boxed{\text{Coke}} \]
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