Question

The metallurgical process in which a metal is obtained in a fused state is called:
A. Smelting
B. Roasting
C. Calcination
D. Froth floatation

Answer 1

Hint: In the process of smelting metals are obtained from its ore by a reducing agent. A reducing agent reduces a metal from its oxide to produce molten or fused metal.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The process of smelting involves heating and melting of the ore, mainly oxide ores. In this process a metal oxide ore is heated and melted in presence of a reducing agent to form fused or molten metal. Here the reducing agent reduces the metal oxide to fused metal and oxidises itself to oxide.

Roasting is defined as a process of heating a sulphide ore in a high temperature and in the presence of air. It is a step in the processing of certain oxide ores. More specifically, the process of roasting often involves gas–solid reactions at a certain temperature to purify metal components.

Calcination is defined as the thermal treatment of a solid chemical compound, mainly carbonate compound of a metal, that is heated at high temperature without melting under restricted supply of ambient oxygen gas. Thus it removes the moisture in a process.

Froth flotation is defined as a process for separating hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic materials.
Thus the correct option is A.

Note: In the process of smelting only low electropositive metals like iron, platinum, lead, cadmium etc are produced in molten state in presence of flux. Flux is generally a cleaning agent.