Which of the following is used in metal extraction?

Concept

In metallurgy, metal extraction often requires reducing a metal compound to the elemental metal.

A carbon-rich material can supply heat and form carbon monoxide, which removes oxygen from some metal oxides during smelting.

Application

Coke is a carbon-rich solid made by heating coal in the absence of air. In the extraction of metals such as iron, coke serves as a fuel and also produces carbon monoxide, which reduces iron oxides to iron.

Contrast

• Coke is used in metallurgical furnaces as a fuel and reducing material.

• Petroleum is a liquid mixture refined mainly into fuels and petrochemical feedstocks.

• Coal tar is a viscous product of coal processing and is used as a source of aromatic chemicals.

• The combined-response choice would require at least two individually listed substances to have the stated metallurgical use.

• The combined-response choice would require every individually listed substance to lack the stated metallurgical use.

Cross-check

NIOS chemistry describes oxide ores being heated with charcoal or coke, while NCERT states that coke is used in the extraction of many metals. Therefore, the supported answer is Coke.