Question

A \[{\text{CuFe}}{{\text{S}}_{\text{x}}}\] (copper pyrite) is an ore of copper. What is the value of X here?

Answer 1

Hint: In copper pyrite copper is in $ + 1$ oxidation state and iron is in $ + 3$ oxidation state. Ores are the forms in which elements exist in nature. They are always neutral compounds.

Complete step by step solution:
Metals in the form of compounds present in Earth’s crust and are obtained by mining are known as minerals. Ore are the minerals from which metal can be procured cost effectively and easily. Different types of ore are there on the basis of which state they are found in Earth crust.
Metallurgy is done in 4 steps; concentration of ore in which removal of impurities mainly by physical process. Then conversion of metal to metal oxide takes place by roasting or calcination. Then metal oxide is reduced to metal by smelting, thermite, self or electrolytic method. Lastly refining is done by liquation, distillation or electrolytic method.
As copper pyrite is an ore of copper with chemical composition as \[{\text{CuFe}}{{\text{S}}_2}\] . Thus, the value of x is 2. In copper pyrite; copper is in $ + 1$ oxidation state and iron is in $ + 3$ oxidation state.

Note:
Most abundant metal in the earth crust is aluminium and the most abundant element in the universe is Hydrogen. Two types of ore are there, namely native ore and combined ore. Native ores are the one in which metal is found in free state, for example, silver, gold and platinum as these metals are least reactive. Combined ores are the ores in which metals are not found in the Free State but rather react with other elements to form compounds. Combined ores are further of 3 types namely sulphide ore, halide ore and oxygenated ore. Sulphide ore are those as the name suggests in which metal forms a compound with sulphur. For example copper pyrite, zinc blender and copper glans. Halide ore in which metal forms compounds after reacting with halogens, for example cryolite. Oxygenated ores are formed when metals react with oxygen and other elements, for example Bauxite, Haematite, Magnetite, Rock phosphate, Siderite and Kaolinite.