Chemistry · Importance of coordination compounds (in qualitative analysis, extraction of metals and in biological systems)

Silver is extracted from by

Silver is extracted from \( A g_{2} S \) by

  • A. fusing it with KCl and electrolyzing the melt
  • B. reducing it with Zinc
  • C. treating with sodium cyanide followed by zinc
  • D. rosting it and reducing the resultant product by smelting

Step-by-step solution

Silver is extracted from its sulfide ore (Ag2S) by the cyanide process. The ore is treated with a dilute solution of sodium cyanide (NaCN) in the presence of air, forming a soluble complex ion [Ag(CN)2]⁻. The solution is then treated with zinc, which displaces silver due to its higher reduction potential, precipitating metallic silver. This method is also known as the MacArthur-Forrest process.
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