Smelting

Definition

Smelting is a metallurgical process that involves heating ores to extract base metals. It typically involves the reduction of metal compounds to elemental metals using a chemical reducing agent.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Smelting often uses coke (a form of carbon) as a reducing agent to convert metal oxides into pure metal.
2. The primary purpose of smelting is to separate the metal from impurities in the ore.
3. Temperatures required for smelting are usually very high, often exceeding 1000°C, depending on the metal being extracted.
4. Commonly smelted transition metals include iron, copper, and nickel.
5. Environmental concerns related to smelting include air pollution from sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions.

Review Questions

• What role does a reducing agent play in the smelting process?
• Why are high temperatures necessary for smelting?
• Name three transition metals commonly obtained through smelting.

Related terms

Ore: A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.

Reduction:

A chemical reaction involving the gain of electrons by one of the atoms involved in the reaction; essential in converting metal oxides to pure metals during smelting.

Blast Furnace:

A type of metallurgical furnace used primarily for smelting iron from its ore with coke as both fuel and reducing agent.