Name: Ellingham Diagram
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 11 min 27 s
Description: Ellingham diagram is useful in predicting the condition under which ore will be reduced to its metal. Let’s watch the video and learn more about the Ellingha...

Question

What is the role of flux in the metallurgy of iron and copper?

Accepted Answer

In metallurgy, a flux is a chemical cleaning agent, flowing agent, or purifying agent. Flux may have more than one function at a time. It is used in both extractive metallurgy and metal joining. Molten flux also serves as a heat transfer medium, facilitating heating of the joint by the soldering tool or molten solder. Iron ore is used as a flux in the smelting of copper.

Limestone $({CaCO}_{3})$ is commonly used as a basic flux for this purpose in smelting iron ores. Limestone is decomposed to $CaO$ which removes silicate impurity of the iron ore as slag.

${CaCO}_{3} \to CaO + {CO}_{2}$

$CaO + \underset{Slag}{{SiO}_{2}} \to {CaSiO}_{3}$

Silica $({SiO}_{2})$ is commonly used as an acidic flux for this purpose in smelting copper ores. It reacts with the impurity $(FeO)$ of copper ore and removes it as slag $({FeSiO}_{3})$ .

$FeO + \underset{Slag}{{SiO}_{2}} \to {FeSiO}_{3}$ .

What is the role of flux in the metallurgy of iron and copper?

Important Questions on General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements

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