Metal sulphides are converted into oxides through roasting, which involves strong heating in the presence of excess air. Carbonate ores are changed into oxides through calcination, achieved by strong heating in limited air.
What processes are employed to convert metal sulphides and carbonates into metal oxides before the reduction process, and what are the specific names for these processes?
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Metal sulphides and carbonates are often converted into metal oxides through specific processes before undergoing reduction. Metal sulphides can be roasted, a process involving heating in the presence of air, converting the sulphide to oxide. Metal carbonates undergo calcination, a heating process in the absence of air, resulting in the decomposition of the carbonate into the metal oxide and carbon dioxide. These pre-treatment steps are crucial in extracting metals from their ores. Roasting and calcination facilitate the subsequent reduction process by preparing the ore in a form suitable for further extraction of the desired metal.