Short & Long Question Answers: Isolation of Elements | Chemistry for JEE Main & Advanced PDF Download

Q.1 What is slag?

Ans. It is easily fusible material fusible material, which is formed when gangue still

present in roasted ore combines with the flux.

e.g. CaO (flux) + SiO₂ (gangue) →CaSiO₃ (slag)
Q.2 Which is better reducing agent at 983K, carbon or CO?

Ans. CO, (above 983K CO being more stable & does not act as a good reducing agent but

carbon does.)
Q.3 At which temperature carbon can be used as a reducing agent for Foe?
Ans. Above 1123 K, carbon can reduce FeO to Fe.
Q.4 What is the role of graphite rods in electrometallurgy of aluminum?

Ans. Graphite rods act as anode, are attacked by oxygen to form CO2 and so to be replace

time to time.
Q.5 What is the role of cryolite in electrometallurgy of aluminum?

Ans. alumina cannot be fused easily because of high melting point. Dissolving of alumina

in cryolite furnishes Al³⁺ ions, which can be electrolyzed easily.
Q.6 What are depressants?

Ans. It is possible to separate two sulphide ore by adjusting proportion of oil to water in

froth flotation process by using a substance known as depressant. e.g. NaCN is used to

separate ZnS and PbS.
Q.7 Copper can be extracted by hydrometallurgy but not Zn. Why?

Ans. The E⁰ of Zn is lower than that of Cu thus Zn can displace Cu²⁺ ion from its solution.

On other hand side to displace Zn from Zn²⁺ ion, we need a more reactive metal than it.
Q.8 Give name and formula of important ore of iron.
Ans. Haematite - Fe₂O₃ , Magnetite -Fe₃O₄ , Iron pyrites FeS₂ .
Q.9 Give name and formula of important ore of Copper.
Ans. Copper pyrites CuFeS₂ , Malachite CuCO₃ . Cu (OH) ₂ , Cuprite Cu₂O.
Q.10 Give name and formula of important ore of Zinc.
Ans. Zinc blende - ZnS, Calamine- ZnCO₃ , Zincite - ZnO
Q.11 Describe the method of refining of nickel. 
Ans. In the Mond Process, Ni is heated in a stream of CO forming a volatile complex, which then decomposes at higher temperature to give Ni.
At 330-350K: - Ni + 4CO → Ni (CO) ₄ 
At 450-470K Ni (CO)₄ → Ni + 4 CO
Q.12 What is Zone Refining? Explain with example.

Ans. Zone refining is a method of obtaining a metal in very pure state. It is based on the

principal that impurities are more soluble in molten state of metal than solidified state.

In this method, a rod of impure metal is moved slowly over circular heater. The portion

of the metal being heated melts & forms the molten zone. As this portion of the rod moves

out of heater, it solidified while the impurities pass into molten zone. The process is

repeated to obtain ultrapure metal and end of rod containing impure metal cutoff.
Q.13 Write the principal of electro-refining.
Ans. In this method of purification impure metal is made Anode and pure metal is made the cathode. On passing electricity, pure metal is deposited at the cathode while the impurities dissolve dissolve in solution as anode mud. E.g. electro- refining of copper:-
At Cathode: - Cu ²⁺ + 2e → Cu
At Anode: - Cu → Cu ²⁺ + 2e
Q.14 Write difference between calcinations and roasting.

Ans. Roasting: It is used to convert sulphide ores into oxides. Roasting involves strong

heating of iron ore in the presence of excess air. For example, copper sulphide in copper

glance ore is converted into copper (I) oxide by heating it in the presence of oxygen.

Calcination: It is used to convert carbonate ores into oxides. Calcination involves strong

heating of the ore in the absence of air. For example, calamine ore, which is chemically

zinc carbonate, is converted into zinc oxide by heating it in the absence of air.

Q.15 Describe the method of refining of Zirconium and Titanium.
Ans. Van Arkel process is used for obtaining ultrapure metal. The impure metal is converted into volatile compound, which then decomposes electrically to get pure metal. At 850K: - Zr impure) + 2 I₂ → ZnI₄ 
At 2075K:- ZnI₄ → Zr (pure) + 2 I₂
Q.16 Out of C & CO, which is better reducing agent for ZnO? 

Ans. Since free energy of formation of CO from C is lower at temperature above 1120K

while that of CO₂ from carbon is lower above 1323K than free energy of formation of

ZnO. However, the free energy of formation of CO₂ from CO is always higher than that of

ZnO. Hence, C is better reducing agent of ZnO.

Q.17 The value of ∆fG⁰ for Cr₂O₃ is -540kJ/mole & that of Al₂O₃ is -827kJ/mole. Is the reduction of Cr₂O₃ possible with aluminium? 

Ans. The desired conversion is

4 Al + 2Cr₂O₃→2Al₂O₃ + 4Cr

It is obtained by addition of following two reactions:-

4Al + 3O₂→ 2 Al₂O₃ ∆f G⁰=-827kJ/mole

2Cr₂O₃ → 4Cr + 3O₂ ∆f G⁰==+ 540 kJ/mole

Therefore, A G0 for desired reaction is -827+540=-287, as a result reduction is possible.

Q.18 Why copper matte is put in silica lined converter?

Ans. Copper matte consists of Cu₂S and FeS. When blast of air is passed through molten

matte in silica- lined converter, FeS present in matte is oxidized to FeO, which combines

with silica to form slag.

I. 2FeS + 3O₂→2FeO +2 SO₂,

II. FeO + SiO₂→FeSiO₃(slag),

III. 2Cu₂S + 3O₂ →2Cu₂O+2SO₂,

IV. 2Cu₂O+2Cu₂S→6Cu + SO₂
Q.19 What is meant by term chromatography?

Ans. Chromato means Colour and graphy means writing because the method was first

used for separation of coloured substance. It is based on selective distribution of various

constituents of a mixture between two phases, a stationary phase and a moving phase. The stationary phase can be either solid or liquid on solid support.
Q.20 Why is reduction of metal oxide easier if metal formed is in liquid state at temperature of reduction.

Ans. The entropy of a substance is higher in liquid state than solid state. In the reduction

of metal oxide, the entropy change will be positive if metal formed is in liquid state. Thus,

the value of A G₀ becomes negative and reduction occurs easily.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTION

Q.1. Explain the following:-

i. Zinc but not copper is used for recovery of Ag from the complex [Ag(CN)₂].

ii. Partial roasting of sulphide ore is done in the metallurgy of copper.

iii. Extraction of Cu from pyrites is difficult than that from its oxide ore through reduction.

Ans. a. A.1- (i) Zn is more powerful reducing agent in comparison to copper. Zn is also

cheaper than Cu.

b. Partial roasting of sulphide ore forms some oxide. This oxide then reacts with

remaining sulphide ore to give copper i.e. self-reduction occurs.

2Cu₂S + 3O₂ →2Cu₂O+2SO₂,

2Cu₂O+2Cu₂S→6Cu + SO₂.

c. Though carbon is good reducing agent for oxide but it is poor reducing agent for

sulphides. The reduction of metal sulphide does not have large negative value.
Q.2 Explain the method for obtaining pig iron from magnetite.
Ans. Extraction of iron from Magnetite takes place in following steps:-
I. Concentration of ore: - It is done by Gravity separation followed by magnetic separation process.
II. Calcination: - It involve heating when the volatile matter escapes leaving behind metal oxide. Fe₂O₃ .xH₂O→ Fe₂O₃ + xH₂O.
III. Roasting: - It involves heating of ore in presence of air, thus moisture, CO₂ ,SO₂ , As₂O₃ removed And FeO oxidized to Fe₂O₃ .
IV. Smelting of roasted ore: - A mixture of ore, coke & CaCO₃ is smelted in long BLAST FURNACE. Following reaction takes place at different temperature zones:-
i. Zone of reduction: - Temperature range 250°C-700°C
3Fe₂O₃+CO → 2Fe₃O₄+CO₂ 
Fe₃O₄+CO → 3FeO+ C0₂ 
FeO +CO → 1 Fe+ C0₂ 
ii. Zone of slag formation:- Temperature range 800°C-1000°C
CaCO_{3 →} CaO+C0₂
CaO+SiO₂ → CaSiO₃ , P₄O₁₀+IOC ₄P+10CO,
SiO₂+2C → Si+2CO, MnO₂+2CF Mn+2CO

iii. Zone of fusion:- Temperature range 1150°C-1350°C

CO2+C → 2CO
iv. Zone of fusion:- Temperature range 1450°C-1950°C 
C+O₂ → CO₂ 
Thus, Pig iron is obtained from Blast Furnace.
Q.3 Name the principal ore of aluminum and describe how Al is extracted from its ore.

Ans. Important ores -(i) Bauxite Al₂O₃ .xH₂0 (ii) Corundum Al₂O₃ . Bauxite is commercially important ore Al.
Extraction from Bauxite ore involves the following two stages:-
i. Purification of bauxite to get pure alumina (Al₂O)
ii. Electrolysis of pure alumina in molten cryolite
Step:-1 Bauxite is treated with NaOH .Following reaction takes place:-
Al₂O₃ +2NaOH + 3 H₂0 2Na [Al(OH)₄ ] and impurities of Fe₂O₃ ,TiO₂ & SiO₂ are removed . Na [Al(OH)₄ ] ,then reacts with CO₂ then pure Alumina is obtained.
Na [Al(OH)₄ ] + 2CO₂ → Al₂O₃ .xH₂O + 2NaHCO₃ 

Step:-2 Electrolytic reduction of pure alumina takes place in iron box (cathode) with cryolite (Na₃AlF₆ ) & fluorspar CaF₂ .Graphite rods act as anode. Following reactions take place:- At cathode:- Al ³+ + 3e→ Al, At Anode:- 2O^2-→O₂ + By this process 98.8% pure Aluminum is obtained.
Q.4 Describe the principles of extraction of Zinc from zinc blende.

Ans. Important ores of Zn:-Zinc blende - ZnS, Calamine- ZnCO₃ , and Zincite - ZnO. ZnS is commercially important ore of Zn.Various stages involved in the extraction of Zn from

ZnS are as following:-

I. Concentration of ore:-It is concentrated by Froth flotation process followed by gravity

separation process.

II. Roasting:- The concentrated ore is roasted in presence of air. Following reactions take

place:-

2ZnS + 3O₂ →2ZnO + 2SO₂

The mass obtained during roasting is porous and is called porous clinker.

III. Reduction of ZnO to Zn: - ZnO is made into briquettes with coke and clay and heated at 1163K. Zn formed distills off and is collected by rapid cooling of zinc vapours.

ZnO + C → Zn + CO