ChemistryNEB 2074 (old course) (grade increment)

Define the terms: Gangue and Slag, giving proper example of each.

2

Answer

Gangue

Gangue refers to the worthless or commercially useless material present along with the ore in a mineral deposit. It is typically removed during the concentration (beneficiation) of ores. Gangue does not contain the metal of economic interest and is usually discarded as waste.

Example: In the extraction of iron from iron pyrite (FeS₂), impurities like silica (SiO₂) and clay act as gangue.


Slag

Slag is the fusible, glassy by-product formed during the smelting or extraction of metals from their ores. It consists mainly of metal oxides, silicates, and other impurities that float on the molten metal and are removed.

Example: During the extraction of iron in a blast furnace, calcium silicate (CaSiO₃) is formed as slag from the reaction between limestone (CaCO₃) and silica (SiO₂) (gangue).


CaCO₃+SiO₂High temperature (blast furnace)CaSiO₃+CO₂
Formation of slag (CaSiO₃) during iron extraction: Limestone reacts with silica (gangue) to form slag and CO₂.

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