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Question 40

The metal which is extracted by oxidation and subsequent reduction from its ore is:

Leaching of silver involves oxidation followed by reduction.

During leaching, silver is treated with dilute cyanide solution in the presence of oxygen:

$$4Ag_{(s)} + 8CN^-_{(aq)} + 2H_2O_{(aq)} + O_{2(g)} \rightarrow 4[Ag(CN)_2]^-_{(aq)} + 4OH^-_{(aq)}$$

Silver is oxidized from oxidation state $$0$$ to $$+1$$ and forms the soluble complex $$[Ag(CN)_2]^-$$.

The dissolved silver is then recovered by adding zinc:

$$2[Ag(CN)_2]^-_{(aq)} + Zn_{(s)} \rightarrow [Zn(CN)_4]^{2-}_{(aq)} + 2Ag_{(s)}$$

Silver is reduced from oxidation state $$+1$$ back to $$0$$ and precipitates as metallic silver.

Aluminium is extracted by electrolytic reduction of alumina, copper is mainly extracted through roasting and self-reduction, and iron is extracted by reduction with carbon monoxide in a blast furnace.

Hence, the metal whose extraction involves oxidation followed by reduction is

$$\boxed{\text{Ag (Silver)}}$$

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