Question

Copper is extracted from Copper pyrites by heating in a Bessemer converter. The method is based on the principle that

• A. Copper has more affinity for oxygen than Sulphur at high temperature
• B. Iron has less affinity for oxygen than Sulphur at high temperature.
• C. Copper has less affinity for oxygen than Sulphur at high temperature.
• D. Sulphur has less affinity for oxygen at high temperature.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Copper has more affinity for oxygen than Sulphur at high temperature

Answer 2

The method is based on the principle that copper has more affinity for oxygen than sulphur at high temperature.

Reaction of Bessemerisation

$Fes +O_2 \to FeO+SO_2$
$FeO+SiO_2 \to \underset{\text{Slag}}{{FeSiO_{3}}} ?$
$Cus +O_2 \to Cu_2 +SO_2$
$Cu_2O +\underset{\text{Copper byrites}}{{cu_2S}} { ->[{\text{Auto}}][{\text{Oxidation}}] }\underset{\text{Blister Copper}}{{Cu}} ? SO_2$