Question

What are froth stabilizers?

Answer 1

Hint :Froth floatation is a technique used in concentrating the ore. Ore contains impurities which are needed to be removed before processing it to obtain the metal. This is done by concentration of ore using different methods. Froth floatation is a process based on the principle of preferential wetting of a solid by a liquid. Metallic sulphides are wetted by certain oils like pine oil.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
In the froth floatation process we are adding the finely powdered ore with water and pine oil. When the water is agitated vigorously, froth is formed. The ore is preferentially wetted by the oil whereas the impurities are wetted by the water. The froth will take the ore with it and rise. This is then skimmed off.
Froth stabilizers are substances which help stabilise the froth formed during the froth floatation process. A day to day example of froth formation is observed when we lather soap while taking a bath, the froth formed is quite short lived. In similar manner, the froth formed in the metallurgical process is also short-lived. So in order to get the froth to be stable, we use froth stabilisers so that the froth can be skimmed off easily.
Common examples of froth stabilizers are cresol and aniline.

Note :
Other methods that are used for concentrating the ores are Gravity separation, Magnetic separation (in case of magnetic ore like iron), electrostatic separation (in case of electrically conducting impurities such as lead sulphide impurity in zinc sulphide ore), leaching (chemical method), Calcination and roasting.