1. Elements or compounds occurring naturally in the Earth's crust are termed "minerals." Minerals that contain high percentages of a specific metal, making them economically viable for extraction, are called "ores." Ores are rocks or minerals from which metals can be profitably extracted through procesRead more

    Elements or compounds occurring naturally in the Earth’s crust are termed “minerals.” Minerals that contain high percentages of a specific metal, making them economically viable for extraction, are called “ores.” Ores are rocks or minerals from which metals can be profitably extracted through processes like mining, smelting, and refining. For example, bauxite is an ore of aluminum, hematite is an ore of iron, and chalcopyrite is an ore of copper. The extraction of metals from ores is a crucial step in various industries, providing the raw materials for the production of metals and alloys.

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  2. In ionic compounds, such as salts, ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces in a crystalline lattice. In the solid state, these ions are fixed in their positions and unable to move, leading to poor electrical conductivity. However, in the molten state or when dissolved in a solution, thRead more

    In ionic compounds, such as salts, ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces in a crystalline lattice. In the solid state, these ions are fixed in their positions and unable to move, leading to poor electrical conductivity. However, in the molten state or when dissolved in a solution, the crystal lattice breaks down, and the ions become free to move. This movement of ions allows the compound to conduct electricity. In solution or molten states, cations and anions migrate towards the respective electrodes, facilitating the flow of electric current through the ionic compound.

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  3. Common reducing agents used to obtain metals from their oxides include carbon (in the form of coke or coal), hydrogen, and metals with higher reactivity. In displacement reactions, highly reactive metals like sodium, calcium, and aluminum function as reducing agents by displacing less reactive metalRead more

    Common reducing agents used to obtain metals from their oxides include carbon (in the form of coke or coal), hydrogen, and metals with higher reactivity. In displacement reactions, highly reactive metals like sodium, calcium, and aluminum function as reducing agents by displacing less reactive metals from their oxides. For example, when aluminum reacts with iron(III) oxide:
    2Al(s) + Fe₂O₃ (s) → 2Fe(l) + Al₂O₃ (s)
    Here, aluminum (Al) donates electrons to reduce iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃), resulting in the production of iron and aluminum oxide. The highly reactive metal serves as a strong reducing agent in the process.

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  4. The term for displacement reactions that produce metals in the molten state and are highly exothermic is "thermite reactions." One notable example is the thermite reaction between iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) and aluminum (Al): 2Al(s) + Fe₂O₃ (s) → 2Fe(l) + Al₂O₃ (s) This reaction releases a large amountRead more

    The term for displacement reactions that produce metals in the molten state and are highly exothermic is “thermite reactions.” One notable example is the thermite reaction between iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) and aluminum (Al):
    2Al(s) + Fe₂O₃ (s) → 2Fe(l) + Al₂O₃ (s)

    This reaction releases a large amount of heat and produces molten iron. Thermite reactions are commonly used for applications such as welding. The intense heat generated in the process allows localized melting and bonding of metals, making it a valuable technique for joining railway tracks, repairing metal parts, or in other situations requiring high-temperature metal fusion.

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  5. Metals high up in the reactivity series, like sodium, magnesium, and calcium, cannot be obtained by heating their oxides with carbon because these metals are more reactive than carbon. Carbon is unable to displace these metals from their oxides in typical reduction reactions. Instead, these metals aRead more

    Metals high up in the reactivity series, like sodium, magnesium, and calcium, cannot be obtained by heating their oxides with carbon because these metals are more reactive than carbon. Carbon is unable to displace these metals from their oxides in typical reduction reactions. Instead, these metals are obtained through electrolytic reduction or by using a more reactive metal as a reducing agent. For example, sodium is obtained by electrolysis of molten sodium chloride (Down’s process), magnesium is obtained by electrolysis of molten magnesium chloride, and calcium is obtained by electrolysis of molten calcium chloride (Hall-Héroult process).

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