Question

Give some examples of magnetic separation.

Answer 1

Hint: Minerals are naturally occurring substances that are composed of elements. To extract the elements from minerals effectively and economically that mineral is ore. Extraction of metal from the ore involves many steps. The process of crushing, concentrating, reduction to metal, and then purification.

Complete answer:
In the process of concentrating an ore magnetic separation is used. The motto of this process is to separate particles having magnetic properties from gangue particles with non-magnetic properties.
Examples: It is used by pollution control boards to separate magnetic waste from scraps like aluminium cans, iron nails, coins etc, thus helping to segregate waste.
To separate Fe from gangue particles from crushed ore powder.
To separate iron from ore, powdered ore is dropped on a moving magnetic conveyor belt where iron pieces are attracted to the belt and gangue particles flew away, thus separating iron from impurities and concentrating it.

Note:
The method is used mainly for the separation of hematite ore, not every metal can be separated by this method. As metals that are ferromagnetic are strongly attracted whereas paramagnetic substances do not. To separate paramagnetic metals, this method is not useful.Ex: gold, silver.