Extracting a metal from its ore - chymist
2006-6-27 · Copper can be extracted from its ores by reduction. One of the common copper ores, malachite, which is composed of mainly copper carbonate, CuCO3xCu(OH)2, is heated to produce copper oxide with the release of carbon dioxide. CuCO3xCu(OH)2 → 2 CuO + CO2 + H2O The copper oxide is then heated with carbon to get copper. 2 CuO + C → 2 Cu + CO2