Question

Cupellation process is used in the metallurgy of:
(A) Copper
(B) Silver
(C) Aluminium
(D) Iron

Answer 1

Hint: The cupellation process is used to extract a metal that belongs to the d-block. The cupellation method is usually used to extract a noble metal. The two metals that are extracted by the cupellation method have atomic number 47 and 79.

Complete step by step solution:
The refining process of metallurgy in which the metals are treated under temperature and have controlled operation to separate noble metal which includes gold and silver from base metals like lead, antimony, arsenic, copper, zinc, or bismuth present in the ore.
The main principle of the cupellation process is that the precious metals do not react or oxidize chemically, but the basic metals on heating form slag or other compounds and separate from the ore leaving the precious metal unreacted.
Historically this process was used to extract silver from smelted lead ores, but this process is still used today.
There are 2 steps in the cupellation method: (i)- Large scale cupellation, and (ii)- Small scale cupellation.
In large scale cupellation, the silver is obtained from the sulfides such as galena (lead sulfide) or cerussite (lead carbonate). The melting point of lead, lead oxide, and silver are ${327}^{\circ }C$, ${888}^{\circ }C$, and ${960}^{\circ }C$. The alloy is heated at ${960}^{\circ }C$to ${1000}^{\circ }C$ in an oxidizing environment. The reaction is:
$Ag(s)+2Pb(s)+O_2(g)\to 2PbO(absorbed)+Ag(l)$
In small scale cancellation, the main principle is the difference in the amount of material to be tested or obtained. Crushing, roasting, and smelting are done to concentrate the metallic components of the metallic to separate the noble gas.

So, the correct answer is an option (B)- Silver.

Note: The silver coins used in the prehistoric age were the result of the cupellation process. In the middle age and Renaissance, cupellation was the most common process for extracting precious metals.