Test: Tin, its Ores and Extraction - JAMB MCQ

Tin is a metal that exhibits a relatively low melting point of 231.93°C (449.47°F). This property makes it useful for various applications, such as soldering and coating other metals.

Cassiterite is a mineral composed mainly of tin dioxide (SnO₂). It is the most abundant ore of tin and serves as the primary source for tin extraction.

Smelting is the process of extracting a metal from its ore by heating and melting it. In the case of tin, the ore is usually heated with carbon in a furnace to produce tin metal.

Tin is commonly alloyed with other metals, particularly copper, to form bronze. Bronze is a durable and corrosion-resistant material used in various applications, including statues, musical instruments, and coins.

Iron is a common impurity found in tin ores. The presence of iron in the ore needs to be reduced during the extraction process to obtain pure tin.

All the listed methods—liquation, distillation, and electrolytic refining—are used for refining tin. Liquation involves the separation of impurities based on their melting points, distillation is used to purify tin through vaporization and condensation, and electrolytic refining utilizes an electrolytic cell to obtain high-purity tin.

Tin is often used as a protective coating for other metals to prevent corrosion. The tin coating acts as a barrier, protecting the underlying metal from exposure to moisture and corrosive substances.

The chemical symbol for tin is Sn, derived from its Latin name, "stannum."

Carbon, in the form of coal or coke, is commonly used as a reducing agent in the extraction of tin. It reacts with tin oxide (SnO₂) to reduce it to tin metal during the smelting process.

The main product obtained after the smelting process in the extraction of tin is tin metal. The tin oxide present in the ore is reduced to tin metal through the application of heat and the presence of a suitable reducing agent.