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Choose the Best Answer · Q3

Q.Which one of the following reaction represents calcination?

a) 2Zn + O₂ ⟶ 2ZnO
b) 2ZnS + 3O₂ ⟶ 2ZnO + 2SO₂
c) MgCO₃ ⟶ MgO + CO₂
d) Both
(a) and (c)
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✓ Free question

Step 1. Calcination (Section 1.3.1) is strongly heating a concentrated ore in the absence of air, driving off volatile components such as CO2 from a carbonate or water of hydration from a hydrate.

Step 2. Option (a), 2Zn + O2 -> 2ZnO, is simple oxidation of the metal itself (not even an ore-processing step as written). Option (b), 2ZnS + 3O2 -> 2ZnO + 2SO2, is ROASTING of a sulphide ore (needs excess oxygen), not calcination.

Step 3. Option (c), MgCO3 -> MgO + CO2, is exactly the calcination pattern given in the text for carbonate ores (parallel to PbCO3 -> PbO + CO2 and CaCO3 -> CaO + CO2), so it alone represents calcination.

Step 4. Since only (c) is a genuine calcination reaction, option (d) ('both a and c') is also ruled out.

✓Final answer

(c) MgCO3 -> MgO + CO2

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