Why is the extraction of copper from pyrites more difficult than that from its oxide ore through reduction?
In the Ellinggam diagram (graph of ΔrGo vs T) for the formation of oxides, copper-copper oxide line is nearly on the top. Hence, oxide ores of copper may be without difficulty decreased to copper with the aid of using heating with coke. The ΔGo vs T traces for CO display poor slope at excessive temperature. Hence, it may without difficulty lessen copper oxide to copper. However, ΔGf for sulphide ores are better than that for CS2 (that is an endothermic compound). Hence, the extraction of copper from pyrite ore is difficult.
