Question

How can zinc oxide be reduced to metallic zinc?

Answer 1

Zinc is an element which is represented by the symbol $Zn$ and is the first element in group $12$ in the modern periodic table.It has an atomic number $30$ and has five stable isotopes.It is the $24^{th}$ most abundant element on the earth’s crust.

Complete answer:
Zinc is mostly available in the form of ore and the most commonly available zinc ore is sphalerite (zinc blende) which is a zinc sulfide mineral. The ore needs to be first refined by froth flotation of the ore then followed by roasting and the final extraction is done using electricity (electrowinning).The process might seem complex however modern technologies have now lightened the burden.Talking about physical appearance Zinc is a bluish-white, lustrous and a diamagnetic metal, however many commercial products of the metal have a dull finish.Although zinc is hard and brittle at most temperatures but becomes malleable at temperatures ranging between $100$ and $150^ {\circ}C$
Zinc oxide ( $ZnO$ ) is a white powder which is insoluble in water.It is available naturally however most of it is produced synthetically in laboratories by electrolyzing a solution of sodium bicarbonate with a zinc anode.
We can obtain Zinc from Zinc oxide as well.This is done by a process known as smelting.Zinc oxide is heated at high temperatures in the presence of Carbon,the carbon reduces the zinc oxide to give Metallic zinc and carbon monoxide.
$ZnO + C\xrightarrow{\vartriangle }Zn + CO$

Note:
The process of reducing metal oxides to their original metal form by heating in the presence of carbon is known as smelting.Zinc oxide has many industrial applications some of which include cosmetics, food supplements, rubbers, plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, lubricants, paints, ointments, adhesives, sealants, pigments, foods, batteries, ferrites, fire retardants etc.