What Is Metal Smelting?

Metal smelting is the process of changing metals from a combined state to a free state. Reduction reaction between carbon, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and other metal oxides at high temperature to obtain metal simple substance.

Metal smelting

1. Reduction method:

Mercury: Thermal decomposition method: 2HgO (s) = heating = 2Hg (l) + O2 (g);

Copper: substitution method: CuSO4 + Fe == Cu + FeSO4 (wet copper smelting);

Aluminum: electrolytic method: 2Al2O3 = energization = 4Al + 3O2 (note that AlCl3 cannot be used because AlCl3 is not an ionic compound);

Magnesium: electrolytic method: MgCl2 (melt) = energization = Mg (s) + Cl2 (g);

Sodium: Electrolysis method: 2NaCl = Electrification = 2Na + Cl2 (g);

Potassium: The principle is made of high boiling point metal and low boiling point metal: Na + KCl = (high temperature, vacuum) = K + NaCl;

Iron: Thermal reduction method: 2Fe2O3 + 3C = high temperature = 4Fe + 3CO2 .

Blast furnace ironmaking: Fe2O3 + 3CO = high temperature = 2Fe + 3CO2