Question

The two metals which can be extracted just by heating their sulphides in air are ______.

Options

• sodium and copper

• copper and aluminium

• potassium and zinc

• mercury and copper

Answer 1

The two metals which can be extracted just by heating their sulphides in air are mercury and copper.

Explanation:

Mercury and copper are low-reactivity metals whose sulphide ores can be reduced to pure metal simply by heating them in air (roasting). For instance, heating cinnabar (mercury sulphide) releases mercury vapour directly, whereas heating copper glance (copper sulphide) partially oxidises it, which then reacts with the remaining sulphide to form copper metal.