Low-grade copper ores and tailings are often processed via Hydrometallurgy. After the copper is leached into an aqueous solution as using acid or bacteria, it is displaced to yield pure metallic coppe

Question

Low-grade copper ores and tailings are often processed via Hydrometallurgy. After the copper is leached into an aqueous solution as $CuSO_4$ using acid or bacteria, it is displaced to yield pure metallic copper. Which of the following is the most commercially viable and chemically sound displacement agent used?

Prashant Kotian · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: B. In hydrometallurgy, a more electropositive metal is used to displace the target metal from solution. While Zinc could work, Scrap Iron () is highly preferred for low-grade copper extraction because it is extremely cheap, readily available, and sufficiently reactive to displace ().

💡 Solution & Explanation

Practice 22,000+ questions like this