Which one of the following metals can be extracted using carbon as red

Which one of the following metals can be extracted using carbon as reducing agent ?

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Zinc

Silver

Gold

Aluminum

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2023

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Zinc can be extracted using carbon as a reducing agent.

Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their oxides by reduction with carbon (smelting). In the reactivity series, carbon is more reactive than zinc, silver, and gold, but less reactive than aluminium. Therefore, oxides of zinc, silver, and gold can potentially be reduced by carbon, while aluminium oxide cannot.

Aluminium is extracted by electrolysis of molten aluminium oxide (alumina) using the Hall-Héroult process because it is much more reactive than carbon. Zinc is commonly extracted from its oxide ($\text{ZnO}$) by heating it with carbon in a process called smelting: $\text{ZnO} + \text{C} \rightarrow \text{Zn} + \text{CO}$. Silver and gold are often found in native states or extracted using processes like cyanidation or from sulfide ores, although carbon can be involved in some extraction stages for silver, zinc is a clearer example of direct oxide reduction by carbon among the options.

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