Class 12 Chemistry - Chapter General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements NCERT Solutions | Copper can be extracted by hydrometallur

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 12th Chemistry - Chapter General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements. This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Exercise 2, Question 1: copper can be extracted by hydrometallurgy but not....
Question 1

Copper can be extracted by hydrometallurgy but not zinc. Explain.

Answer

The reduction potentials of zinc and iron are lower than that of copper. In hydrometallurgy, zinc and iron can be used to displace copper from their solution.

Fe(s) + Cu2+(aq)   →   Fe2+(aq)   + Cu(s)

But to displace zinc, more reactive metals i.e., metals having lower reduction potentials than zinc such as Mg, Ca, K, etc. are required. But all these metals react with water with the evolution of H2 gas.

2K(s)  + 2H2O (l)   →  2KOH (aq) + H2(g)

As a result, these metals cannot be used in hydrometallurgy to extract zinc.

Hence, copper can be extracted by hydrometallurgy but not zinc.

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