The General Principles of Metallurgy section deals with the extraction, purification, and refining of metals from their ores, forming a crucial part of Class 11–12 and undergraduate Inorganic Chemistry. This module is designed for school students, undergraduate learners, and competitive exam aspirants, with strong emphasis on conceptual understanding, process logic, and exam relevance.
In this section, you will study:
Occurrence of metals – minerals and ores, concentration of ores
Extraction principles – thermodynamic feasibility, Gibbs free energy (Ellingham diagram)
Concentration of ores – hydraulic washing, magnetic separation, froth flotation
Roasting and calcination – purpose, reactions, and comparison
Reduction methods – carbon reduction, self-reduction, aluminothermy, and electrolytic reduction
Refining of metals – electrolytic refining, zone refining, distillation, and liquation
Role of flux and slag in metallurgy
Extraction of important metals (overview) – iron, copper, aluminum, zinc
Environmental and economic aspects of metallurgical processes
NCERT- and UG-aligned explanations, supported by flowcharts, diagrams, reaction equations, MCQs, numericals, and PYQs
The content is structured to build step-by-step understanding, strengthen process-based reasoning, and help students confidently tackle theoretical and application-based questions in exams.
Develop a strong foundation in the General Principles of Metallurgy to master metal extraction logic, a high-weightage topic in NEET, JEE, and undergraduate examinations.
Q. In the context of metallurgy, what does the term 'flux' refer to?
A.
A reducing agent
B.
A substance that promotes melting
C.
An oxidizing agent
D.
A type of metal
Solution
Flux is a substance added to a metallurgical process to promote melting and help remove impurities.
Correct Answer:
B
— A substance that promotes melting
