2006-09-09 20:19:49 · 5 answers · asked by IRSHAD M 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Isn't Zinc an element occuring in nature? Nothing is required to make it.
2006-09-09 20:21:19 · answer #1 · answered by San Diego Art Nut 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
do a google search and you would find the answer.....
.......Mineral from which zinc is extracted, principally sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S, but also zincite, ZnO2, and smithsonite, ZnCO3, all of which occur in mineralized veins. Ores of lead and zinc often occur together, and are common worldwide; Canada, the USA, and Australia are major producers.
Sources of Zinc
Ores containing zinc are widespread geologically and geographically and many ore bodies are still awaiting development when sufficient demand occurs.
The abundance of zinc in the earth's crust is approximately 132ppm with the major types of zinc ore deposits being:
-Volcanic-hosted massive sulphides
-Sediment-hosted massive sulphides
-Mississippi Valley Type ("MVT") carbonate-hosted deposits
-Intrusion-related zinc ore deposits
-"Broken Hill type" ore deposits.
Usually zinc ores are found in association with those of lead, copper, gold, silver as well as other metals. Rarely is the ore, as mined, rich enough to be used directly by smelters; it needs to be concentrated. Typically zinc ores contain 3% to more than 10% zinc and zinc concentrates will contain 55% zinc.
How is Zinc produced?
The raw material used for the production of zinc is zinc concentrate, which is the result of a flotation process after the ore has been mined and milled. The zinc ore contains 1-15% zinc whereas the concentrate typically contains approx. 55% zinc, 6.5% iron and 32% sulphur together with other elements at much lower levels.
The process begins with the roasting of the concentrate. At a temperature of around 950°C, oxidisation of the zinc, iron and sulphur occurs. The sulphur is collected as SO2 and is used to make sulphuric acid (H2SO4) - a commercial by-product.
The iron and zinc oxides that, after the roasting process, have been reduced to powder form, are leached with dilute sulphuric acid. The solution is neutralised and the precipitates i.e. metallic co-products together with any unwanted contaminants, are removed by filtration.
The refined solution is then electrolysed in a cell fitted with a lead anode and an aluminium cathode. The cathode is immersed in the solution for 48 hours during which time the zinc is deposited on the aluminium cathode from which it is subsequently stripped.
The final process takes place in the foundry where the zinc takes its final form, either as a metal with a purity of 99.95% or as an alloy together with copper, aluminium or magnesium. The zinc is cast into various forms (normally ingots or plates)with weights from 9 kg to 4 tons.
2006-09-09 20:45:10 · answer #2 · answered by Cosmic_Merlin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are various ways to produce zinc. Onemethod involvesroastingofzinc ores to produce zinc oxide. The resultant zinc oxide is then treated with coal or carbon to reduce the oxide group and thenthedistillation process is carried out to obtain zinc that is free from oxide impurities.
2006-09-09 20:22:34 · answer #3 · answered by RealDeal 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always thought that zinc was an element.
2006-09-09 20:37:00 · answer #4 · answered by Phlodgeybodge 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
zinc is an element. nothing else can MAKE zinc, it can only extract zinc from other objects.
2006-09-09 20:21:47 · answer #5 · answered by lilbabeejake 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋