Why reduction of oxides is easier?

Why reduction of a metal oxide becomes easier if the metal formed is in liquid state at the temperature of reduction? The entropy is higher if the metal is in liquid state than when it is in solid state. Thus the value of ΔG° becomes more on negative side and the reduction becomes easier.

Why is it difficult to reduce sulphide ore?

Sulphide ores thermodynamically more stable than CS2 and hence cannot be converted by using coke (general and common reducing agent) as reducing agent.

Why sulphide ore is converted to oxide before reduction?

To obtain the metal, each of these oxides is heated with carbon. Oxygen is lost by the metal oxide, and is thus reduced. The carbon acquires oxygen and is thereby oxidised.

Why are oxides so stable?

Due to its electronegativity, oxygen forms stable chemical bonds with almost all elements to give the corresponding oxides. Noble metals (such as gold or platinum) are prized because they resist direct chemical combination with oxygen, and substances like gold(III) oxide must be generated by indirect routes.

Why do oxides have more ionic character than sulphides?

According to Fajans’ rule, oxides are more ionic than corresponding sulphides because of the smaller size of the oxygen ion. Larger the size of the anion more will be the covalent nature of the compound.

Why is the reduction of a metal oxide easier if the metal is in liquid state at a temperature of reduction?

Solution: Reduction of a metal oxide is easier if the metal is formed in a liquid state at the temperatures of the reduction because the entropy is higher if the metal is in a liquid state.

Why we convert ores of any metal into oxide first?

It is easier to obtain metals from their oxides rather than from their carbonates and sulphides.

Can the carbon be used for the reduction of the metal sulphide ores and why?

Therefore, neither carbon nor hydrogen can reduce metal sulphides to metal. In constrast, the standard free energies of formation of oxides ar much lower than that of SO2 and hence oxidation of metal sulphides to metal oxides is thermodynamically favourable.

Which of the ores can be reduced easily?

Sulphides cannot be reduced easily while oxides can be reduced easily.

Which oxide is more stable?

Nitrogen dioxide is the most stable oxide. Thus, option D is the correct one. Note: The relation between the equilibrium constant and stability of oxides are inversely proportional.

Why are oxides of iodine most stable?

The stability of oxides of iodine is greater than those of chlorine while bromine oxides are the least stable. Iodine-oxygen bond is stable due to greater polarity of the bond while the stability of the chlorine-oxygen bond is due to multiple bond formation involving d-orbitals of the chlorine atom.

How do metal oxides differ from non metal oxides?

Metals react with oxygen to form metallic oxides. These metallic oxides are basic because they react with water to form bases. On the other hand, nonmetals react with oxygen to form nonmetallic oxides. These oxides differ from metallic oxides because they are acidic in nature.