Desperate to confirm a fact for a story I am writing: can a furnace at a smelting factory melt copper and zinc at temperatures exceeding 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit? PLEASE HELP! Thank you.
2006-09-11 09:17:36 · 5 answers · asked by ScottG 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
No. The 1-atmosphere boiling point of copper is 5301 F, and the boiling point of zinc is 1665 F. At one atmosphere pressure, both would be gases at 10,000 F.
2006-09-11 09:39:17 · answer #1 · answered by hfshaw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know at what temperature copper and zinc turn into gasses, but the molten temperature of these metals can rise until the ambient pressure allows them to vaporize. By increasing the pressure you can increase the temperature at which these metals vaporize, although it may have to be a very high pressure.
2006-09-12 16:41:51 · answer #2 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At "usual" air pressure, copper will melt at 2000 deg F and turn into a gas at 4600 deg F, and zinc will melt at 790 deg F and turn into a gas at 1700 deg F.
You would have to increase the air pressure considerably if you want copper and zinc to melt at a temperature close to 10000 deg F.
2006-09-12 02:58:18 · answer #3 · answered by Barret 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, but they might become vapor. Why would they need to. I am sure if you used 2000 degrees, it would be enough. If you increased the pressure they could probably remain liquid at those temperatures
2006-09-11 16:29:46 · answer #4 · answered by JimZ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes
2006-09-11 16:23:22 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋