1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. The significance of leaching in the extraction of aluminium is

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. The significance of leaching in the extraction of aluminium is

General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements

Solution:

Bauxite is the principal ore of aluminium. The impurities present in bauxite are $SiO _{2}$ , iron oxides and titanium oxide $\left( TiO _{2}\right)$. $Al _{2} O _{3}$ is extracted out as sodium aluminate. The impurity, $SiO _{2}$ too dissolves forming sodium silicate. Other impurities are left behind. $Al _{2} O _{3}+2 NaOH +3 H _{2} O \rightarrow 2 Na \left[ Al ( OH )_{4}\right]$ Thus, leaching is used to remove the impurities present