General Principles of Metallurgy - Higher Difficulty Problems
Q. In the context of metallurgy, what is the primary purpose of roasting a sulfide ore?
A.To reduce the ore
B.To oxidize the ore
C.To concentrate the ore
D.To purify the ore
Solution
Roasting a sulfide ore involves heating it in the presence of oxygen to convert it into an oxide, which is a necessary step for further extraction of the metal.
Correct Answer: B — To oxidize the ore
Q. What is the primary method used to extract aluminum from its ore, bauxite?
A.Electrolysis
B.Roasting
C.Hydrometallurgy
D.Smelting
Solution
Aluminum is primarily extracted from bauxite through electrolysis, specifically using the Bayer process followed by electrolysis of alumina.
Correct Answer: A — Electrolysis
Q. What is the primary oxidation state of manganese in potassium permanganate (KMnO4)?
A.+2
B.+4
C.+6
D.+7
Solution
In potassium permanganate, manganese has an oxidation state of +7, which is characteristic of its highest oxidation state.
Correct Answer: D — +7
Q. What is the primary role of a reducing agent in a redox reaction?
A.To gain electrons
B.To lose electrons
C.To increase oxidation state
D.To decrease oxidation state
Solution
A reducing agent donates electrons to another species, thereby reducing its oxidation state while itself being oxidized.
Correct Answer: B — To lose electrons
Q. What type of bond is primarily formed between sodium and chlorine in sodium chloride?
A.Covalent bond
B.Ionic bond
C.Metallic bond
D.Hydrogen bond
Solution
Sodium chloride is formed by an ionic bond, which occurs due to the transfer of electrons from sodium to chlorine.
Correct Answer: B — Ionic bond
Q. Which of the following acids is a strong acid and can completely dissociate in water?
A.Acetic acid
B.Sulfuric acid
C.Phosphoric acid
D.Carbonic acid
Solution
Sulfuric acid is a strong acid that completely dissociates in water, making it a strong electrolyte.
Correct Answer: B — Sulfuric acid
Q. Which of the following coordination compounds is likely to exhibit geometric isomerism?
A.[Cu(NH3)4]SO4
B.[CoCl2(NH3)4]
C.[Ag(CN)2]−
D.[Fe(CO)6]
Solution
The complex [CoCl2(NH3)4] can exhibit geometric isomerism due to the presence of two different types of ligands.
Correct Answer: B — [CoCl2(NH3)4]
Q. Which of the following metals is most likely to form a complex ion with a coordination number of 6?
A.Copper
B.Iron
C.Zinc
D.Nickel
Solution
Iron commonly forms octahedral complexes with a coordination number of 6 due to its ability to accommodate six ligands.
Correct Answer: B — Iron
Q. Which of the following trends is observed in the periodic table as you move from left to right across a period?
A.Decreasing ionization energy
B.Increasing atomic radius
C.Increasing electronegativity
D.Decreasing electron affinity
Solution
As you move from left to right across a period, electronegativity generally increases due to the increasing nuclear charge.
