Explain how the metal oxide is converted into metal using carbon as a reducing agent.

Explanation

(i) In this method the oxide ore of the metal is mixed with coal (coke) and heated strongly in a furnace (usually in a blast furnace).
(ii) This process can be applied to the metals which do not form carbides with carbon at the reduction temperature.
Eg : `ZnO_((s)) + C_((s)) rarr Zn_((s)) + CO_((g)) uarr`