I would like to know the process of smelting copper and how it works.A short and simple explanation will do :)
Smelting copper is the process of converting copper ore into pure copper metal. Most copper ores are either oxide or sulfide salts of copper, so reduction by charcoal is a common way of isolating the copper metal. Sulfide ores are first roasted in air to produce the oxide (such as this reaction with chalcocite, the most valuable of the copper ores): 2Cu2S + 3O2 --> 2SO2 + 2Cu2O The oxide ores are then reduced to the metal using charcoal: 2Cu2O + C --> CO2 + 4Cu At this point, the metal can be further purified by electrolysis - using an electrical current to partially melt the metal while the impurities remain solid.
