Copper can be extracted from :

(A) Cryolite

(B) Malachite

(C) Calamine

(D) Copper glance

(E) Cuprite

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(B), (D), (E) only

The correct answer is option 1. (B), (D), (E) only.

Let us look into the extraction of copper from its ores and the ores from which it can be extracted:

Copper is a widely used metal in various industries due to its excellent electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and malleability. It is commonly extracted from its ores through various methods, including pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes.

1. Ores of Copper:

Malachite \((CuCO_3·Cu(OH)_2)\): This is a common secondary mineral of copper. It forms in the oxidized zone of copper deposits in association with azurite, chalcocite, and cuprite. Malachite is a bright green mineral with distinctive bands and often occurs as botryoidal or stalactitic masses.

Copper Glance \((Cu_2S)\): Also known as chalcocite, copper glance is a sulfide mineral of copper. It is a significant ore of copper and is formed by the action of sulfur-bearing solutions on copper ores. Chalcocite often occurs as fine-grained masses or coatings and may have a bluish-gray to black color.

Cuprite \((Cu_2O)\): Cuprite is a copper oxide mineral that forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of copper deposits. It is commonly associated with other copper minerals such as malachite and azurite. Cuprite has a deep red color, often with metallic luster, and may occur as crystals or as earthy masses.

2. Extraction Methods:

Pyrometallurgical Process: In this process, copper ores are initially concentrated through crushing and grinding. The concentrated ore is then roasted to remove sulfur and moisture, converting copper sulfides to copper oxides. The roasted ore is smelted in a furnace, where it is heated with a reducing agent such as coke (carbon) to produce crude copper. This crude copper is further refined through processes like electrolysis or fire refining to obtain pure copper metal.

Hydrometallurgical Process: This process involves leaching copper ores with acidic or basic solutions to dissolve copper minerals. The leach solution containing copper ions is then treated to recover copper metal through processes like solvent extraction, precipitation, or electrowinning.

3. Cryolite \((Na_3AlF_6)\): Cryolite is not a copper ore; instead, it is a mineral used in the extraction of aluminum from its ore, bauxite. It acts as a solvent in the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum metal. Therefore, it is not directly involved in the extraction of copper.

4. Calamine: Calamine is primarily zinc carbonate \((ZnCO_3)\) and is not a copper ore. It is used in the production of zinc metal but is not involved in the extraction of copper.

In summary, copper can be extracted from ores such as malachite, copper glance, and cuprite using pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes. These processes involve concentration, roasting, smelting, refining, and purification steps to obtain pure copper metal from its ores.