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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: missmoody on July 27, 2006, 06:30:43 PM

Title: Element that is removed?
Post by: missmoody on July 27, 2006, 06:30:43 PM

What is the element that is removed from the ores (iron & aluminium) when they are reduced?

Please try to keep the answer as simple as possible, I know nothing about chemistry =]


thank youuuu
xoxo

Title: Re: Element that is removed?
Post by: jwesterway on July 27, 2006, 09:50:16 PM

could be just about anything.... but usually for bulk ores such as iron and aluminium it is usually oxygen that is removed as the ore is actually the oxide of the metal.

-Josh

Title: Re: Element that is removed?
Post by: lemonoman on July 28, 2006, 12:34:03 AM

In fact it is DEFINITELY oxygen, for iron and aluminum at least.

Oxidation and Reduction are kinda opposites.  In highschool people are taught that Oxidation is a loss of electrons, Reduction is a gain of electrons.

Aluminum comes out of the ground as bauxite, Al₂O₃.  To get pure Aluminum (Al), you need to get rid of the O (oxygen).

This is NOT the case for everything though.  Antimony comes out of the ground as Antimonous Sulfide (or something like that)...Sb₂S₃, and so you need to get rid of the sulfur...

Title: Re: Element that is removed?
Post by: AWK on July 28, 2006, 05:35:02 AM

It is much easier to reduce iron oxides in comarison to aluminium oxide

Title: Re: Element that is removed?
Post by: missmoody on July 28, 2006, 10:38:51 AM

ahh thank you

xoxo