Low-grade copper ores and tailings are often processed via Hydrometallurgy. After the copper is leac — Metallurgy and Isolation of Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In hydrometallurgy, a more electropositive metal is used to displace the target metal from solution. While Zinc could work, Scrap Iron ($Fe$) is highly preferred for low-grade copper extraction because it is extremely cheap, readily available, and sufficiently reactive to displace $Cu$ ($Cu^{2+} + Fe \rightarrow Cu \downarrow + Fe^{2+}$).