Question

Chile saltpetre is the ore of:
A. Iodine
B. Bromine
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium

Answer 1

Hint: An ore is a kind of solid substance, that is used to extract a mineral, or a metal. These are extracted from the earth, and refined to attain a metal. Chile saltpetre is considered to be an ore of group I elements. Now, identify the group I elements among these options. The compound of that element is also used as a salt.

Complete step by step answer:
- First, we have defined the ore. According to the definition we can say that the valuable minerals, or metals are obtained from an ore.
-Now, if we look at the four options, and discuss their occurrence; we can know the element found from Chile saltpetre ore.
-The first is iodine. It is mainly used for industrial purposes, and it is found from ore named Caliche, or from the underground brines.
-The second is bromine. It is found naturally as bromide salts in the form of crystal rocks mainly in the oceans.
-The third is sodium. It is obtained from the ore named Chile saltpetre, as it is mainly found in Chile, or Peru. The other name of Chile saltpetre is sodium nitrate.
-The fourth is magnesium. It is found from the ore named dolomite, and also from the minerals like magnesite, brucite etc.
-As we know, sodium, and magnesium are group I elements, and sodium chloride is used as common salt.
In the last, we can conclude that Chile saltpetre is the ore of sodium.
Hence, the correct option is (C).

Note: Don’t get confused while identifying the element. From the name itself we can say that it is a kind of salt. There is existence of many ores, as we can see for magnesium; but the extraction is mainly done from the main ore having the element in large amounts.