Question:

Which of the following processes represents the extraction of pure metal from its ore?

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Remember the sequence: \[ \text{Ore} \rightarrow \text{Concentration} \rightarrow \text{Calcination/Roasting} \rightarrow \text{Reduction} \rightarrow \text{Refining} \] Only the refining step is intended to produce highly pure metal.
Updated On: Jun 10, 2026
  • Calcination
  • Roasting
  • Electrolytic Refining
  • Smelting
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Concept: Metallurgy involves several steps for obtaining a metal from its ore. These steps generally include:

• Concentration of the ore.

• Conversion of the concentrated ore into oxide form.

• Reduction of the oxide to crude metal.

• Refining of the crude metal to obtain pure metal.
The process used to obtain highly pure metal from an impure metal is known as refining. Among various refining methods, electrolytic refining is one of the most widely used techniques for producing metals of very high purity.

Step 1: Analyse Calcination. Calcination involves heating an ore in the absence or limited supply of air. Examples include: \[ ZnCO_3 \rightarrow ZnO + CO_2 \] \[ CaCO_3 \rightarrow CaO + CO_2 \] Calcination converts ores into oxides but does not produce pure metal. Therefore, \[ \boxed{\text{Calcination is not the correct answer}} \]

Step 2: Analyse Roasting. Roasting involves heating sulfide ores in excess air. For example, \[ 2ZnS + 3O_2 \rightarrow 2ZnO + 2SO_2 \] Roasting also serves as a preliminary metallurgical step and does not yield pure metal. Hence, \[ \boxed{\text{Roasting is not the correct answer}} \]

Step 3: Analyse Electrolytic Refining. Electrolytic refining is employed to obtain highly pure metal. In this process:

• Impure metal acts as the anode.

• Pure metal sheet acts as the cathode.

• A suitable electrolyte containing metal ions is used.
During electrolysis: \[ M \rightarrow M^{n+} + ne^{-} \] at the anode, and \[ M^{n+} + ne^{-} \rightarrow M \] at the cathode. As a result, pure metal is deposited at the cathode. Metals such as copper, silver, gold and nickel are purified using this method. Therefore, \[ \boxed{\text{Electrolytic Refining gives pure metal}} \]

Step 4: Analyse Smelting. Smelting is the reduction of a metal oxide using a reducing agent such as carbon or carbon monoxide. For example, \[ Fe_2O_3 + 3CO \rightarrow 2Fe + 3CO_2 \] The metal obtained after smelting is generally impure and requires further refining. Thus, \[ \boxed{\text{Smelting does not produce highly pure metal}} \]

Final Answer Among the given options, the process that yields highly pure metal is \[ \boxed{\text{Electrolytic Refining}} \] Hence, the correct option is \[ \boxed{\text{(C)}} \]
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