Purification of

Metals Group
Assignment
Group Members
Group Leader: Seth Byron
Other Members: Jaden Sayers

11/17/2023
 Agenda

 Purpose
 Metallurgy
 History of Metal Purification
 Common Purification Techniques
1. Distillation
2. Electrolytic Refining
3. Zone Refining
 Purpose

 This presentation seeks to inform the teacher and the students of

Form 5 Science of the saliant points of the Purification of Metals.
In addition to get feedback and to build knowledge on the
above-mentioned topics
 Metallurgy
 Metallurgy is the study of the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their compounds, and alloys. It is a
branch of materials science and engineering that has a significant impact on various industries .

 Metals and mineral products are ubiquitous in our daily lives. They are used in the construction of buildings, bridges,
and roads. They are also used in the production of vehicles, electronics, and household appliances .

 Metallurgy has played a vital role in shaping today’s society. It has enabled us to create new materials with unique
properties that have revolutionized various industries . For example, metallurgy has enabled us to create lightweight
alloys that are used in the aerospace industry to reduce fuel consumption and increase efficiency .

 In addition to this, metallurgy has also helped us to develop new materials that are more durable, corrosion-resistant,
and heat-resistant . These materials have found applications in various fields such as medicine, energy, and
transportation .
 History of Metal Purification
 The history of metal purification dates back to ancient times. People have been using methods of separating and
purifying chemical substances for improving the quality of life since then. The extraction of metals from ores and of
medicines from plants is older than recorded history . In the Middle Ages, the alchemists’ search for the philosophers’
stone (a means of changing base metals into gold) and the elixir of life (a substance that would perpetuate youth)
depended on separations .

 One ancient process for extracting silver from lead was cupellation. Lead was melted in a bone ash ‘test’ or ‘cupel’
and air blown across the surface. This oxidized the lead to litharge, and also oxidized other base metals present, the
silver (and gold if present) remaining unoxidized .

 Techniques of metal refining and purification rely on the differences in physicochemical properties of the base metal
and the impurities . Over time, various techniques have been developed to purify metals. Some of these techniques
include electrolysis, distillation, precipitation, solvent extraction, and chromatography . These techniques have
enabled us to create new materials with unique properties that have revolutionized various industries .
 Common Purification Techniques
 There are several techniques used for metal purification. Some of the most common methods include:
1. Distillation: This method is useful for low boiling metals .

2. Electrolytic refining: It is based upon the phenomenon of electrolysis .

3. Zone Refining: This technique involves passing a molten zone through a bar of impure metal, which causes impurities
to move to one end of the bar .
 1. Distillation
 Distillation is a process of separating the components of a mixture based on their boiling points. It is a widely
used technique for metal purification. In this process, the impure metal is heated to its boiling point, and the
vapors are condensed to obtain pure metal as distillate .

 Distillation is useful for metals that have a lower boiling point and are volatile in nature. For example, zinc and
mercury are commonly purified by distillation .

 The process of distillation exploits the difference in the boiling points of the components in the liquid mixture by
forcing one of them into a gaseous state. It is important to note that distillation is not a chemical reaction but it
can be considered as a physical separation process .
 2. Electrolytic Refining
 Electrolytic refining is a process of refining a metal (mainly copper) by the process of electrolysis . In this
process, a large chunk or slab of impure metal is used as the anode, with a thin strip of pure metal as the
cathode. An electrolyte (metal salt aqueous solution), depending on the metal, is often used. On passing current,
metal ions from the electrolyte are deposited at the cathode in the form of pure metal while equivalent amount of
metal dissolve from the anode into the electrolyte in the form of metal ions. The impurities fall down below the
anode as anode mud .

 The process of electrolytic refining exploits the difference in the electrochemical properties of the components
in the liquid mixture by forcing one of them to lose electrons and become a cation. The cation then moves
towards the cathode and gains electrons to become a neutral atom, which is deposited on the cathode as pure
metal .

 Electrolytic refining is useful for metals that have a higher boiling point and are less volatile in nature. For
example, copper is commonly purified by electrolytic refining .
 3. Zone Refining
 Zone refining is a method used to purify a substance, typically a metal, by selectively melting and solidifying
small regions of the material. The process involves passing a small heater back and forth along the length of a thin
rod or wire of the substance being purified .

 In this process, a circular mobile heater is fixed at one end of the metal rod which is made up of impure metal.
Now, the circular mobile heater is moved slowly across the metal rod. The metallic impurities melt at the
temporary position of this heater. The melt containing the impurities moves forward along with the heater through
the entirety of the metal rod. The pure metal is left to solidify as the heater moves along the rod. As the heater
moves forward, the concentration of the impurities in the melt increases. This is because the impurities are more
soluble in their corresponding melt state. Finally, the impurities are accumulated at one end of the metal rod. The
process described above is repeated many times in the same direction. The end of the rod in which the impurities
have now accumulated is cut off, leaving behind the pure metal .

 Zone refining is useful for metals that have a higher melting point and are less volatile in nature. For example,
silicon and germanium are commonly purified by zone refining .
 Applications of Purified Metals
 Metallurgy has played a vital role in shaping today’s society. It has enabled us to create new materials with unique properties
that have revolutionized various industries . For example, metallurgy has enabled us to create lightweight alloys that are used
in the aerospace industry to reduce fuel consumption and increase efficiency .
 In addition to this, metallurgy has also helped us to develop new materials that are more durable, corrosion-resistant, and heat-
resistant . These materials have found applications in various fields such as medicine, energy, and transportation .
 Here are some examples of how metals are used in our daily lives:
1. Construction: Metals such as steel and aluminum are widely used in the construction industry for building structures such as
bridges, skyscrapers, and stadiums.
2. Transportation: Metals such as steel and aluminum are also used in the transportation industry for building vehicles such as
cars, trains, and airplanes.
3. Electronics: Metals such as copper and gold are used in the production of electronic devices such as smartphones, computers,
and televisions.
4. Household appliances: Metals such as stainless steel and aluminum are used in the production of household appliances such
as refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines.
5. Jewelry: Precious metals such as gold and silver are used in the production of jewelry.
6. Medicine: Metals such as titanium and stainless steel are used in the production of medical implants such as artificial joints.
 Challenges in metal Purification
 Metal purification is a complex process that requires a lot of energy and resources. There are several challenges
facing metal purification, some of which include:
1. Cost: Metal purification can be an expensive process, especially for metals that are rare or difficult to extract from
ores.
2. Environmental impact: The process of metal purification can have a significant impact on the environment. The
use of chemicals and other materials can lead to pollution and other environmental issues.
3. Energy consumption: Metal purification requires a lot of energy, which can contribute to climate change and
other environmental problems.
4. Waste management: The process of metal purification generates a lot of waste, which can be difficult to manage
and dispose of safely.
5. Safety concerns: The use of chemicals and other materials in metal purification can pose safety risks to workers
and the environment