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Question
Sodium cyanide is used in the extraction of silver from its ore. Explain why it is used and write the relevant equation.
Explain
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Solution
Sodium cyanide is used in the extraction of silver because it forms a soluble complex with silver present in the ore. This process is called cyanide leaching, where silver from its ore (e.g., argentite, Ag2S) reacts with NaCN in the presence of air (oxygen) to form a soluble complex, sodium dicyanoargentate(I).
\[\ce{Ag2S + 4NaCN + O2 + 2H2O -> 2Na[Ag(CN)2] + 2NaOH + H2SO4}\]
The silver ore reacts with sodium cyanide in the presence of oxygen and water. A soluble complex Na[Ag(CN)2] is formed. This method helps in the easy separation of silver from the ore in solution form.
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