When is the ore subjected to leach?a)When the ore is in immiscible liq...
The ore is subjected to leaching when both the ore and impurity are insoluble in water. Leaching process is commonly referred to as extraction. This is a process in which water soluble substances are washed out from soil or wastes.
When is the ore subjected to leach?a)When the ore is in immiscible liq...
The ore is subjected to leach when both the ore and impurity are insoluble in water. Leaching is a process used to extract a desired metal from an ore by dissolving it in a liquid solvent. In this case, water is the solvent used for leaching.
There are several reasons why leaching is carried out when both the ore and impurity are insoluble in water. Let's break it down:
1. Insolubility of the ore:
When the ore is insoluble in water, it means that the metal content cannot be easily dissolved or extracted using water alone. In such cases, a leaching agent is required to facilitate the extraction process. The leaching agent can be an acid, a base, or any other suitable solvent that can selectively dissolve the metal from the ore.
2. Insolubility of the impurity:
If the impurity present in the ore is soluble in water, it can be easily separated or removed by simply washing or filtering the ore. However, when both the ore and impurity are insoluble in water, leaching becomes necessary to selectively dissolve the metal while leaving the impurity behind.
3. Selective dissolution:
During leaching, the ore is mixed with the leaching agent, and the desired metal ions are selectively dissolved into the solvent. The insoluble impurities remain undissolved and can be separated from the leach solution through various methods such as filtration or sedimentation. The leach solution, which contains the dissolved metal, is then further processed to recover the metal in a pure form.
4. Efficiency and cost-effectiveness:
Leaching is often chosen as a method for metal extraction when both the ore and impurity are insoluble in water due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It allows for the selective dissolution of the metal, minimizing the loss of valuable resources and reducing the amount of energy and chemicals required for the extraction process.
In conclusion, leaching is carried out when both the ore and impurity are insoluble in water. This allows for the selective dissolution of the desired metal from the ore while leaving the impurity behind. Leaching is an efficient and cost-effective method for metal extraction when other conventional methods are not suitable or feasible.