Q1: Which of the following metals can not be extracted by pyrometallurgical process from its sulphide ore?

ANS:B - Mercury

Mercury cannot be extracted by pyrometallurgical processes from its sulfide ore. Explanation:

1. Pyrometallurgical Process: Pyrometallurgy is a process of extracting metals from their ores using heat and various chemical reactions. It typically involves high-temperature processes such as roasting, smelting, and refining to extract the desired metal from its ore.
2. Mercury Extraction: Mercury is typically found in nature as cinnabar (HgS), a sulfide ore. However, mercury cannot be extracted by pyrometallurgical processes from its sulfide ore due to its low boiling point and high volatility. When heated, mercury vaporizes readily at relatively low temperatures, making it challenging to recover using traditional high-temperature processes.
3. Alternative Methods for Mercury Extraction: Instead of pyrometallurgical processes, mercury is typically extracted using hydrometallurgical methods or chemical processes. These methods involve leaching the cinnabar ore with acids or other solvents to dissolve the mercury, followed by further processing to recover the metal.
4. Other Metals: Copper, lead, and many other metals can be extracted from their sulfide ores using pyrometallurgical processes. These processes involve roasting the sulfide ore to convert the metal sulfides into oxides or other compounds, followed by smelting to extract the metal from its oxide form. Therefore, for copper, lead, and most other metals, pyrometallurgical processes are commonly used for extraction from their sulfide ores.
5. Conclusion: Among the options provided, mercury is the metal that cannot be extracted by pyrometallurgical processes from its sulfide ore. Copper, lead, and other metals can be extracted using pyrometallurgy, but mercury requires alternative extraction methods due to its unique properties and high volatility.