Which of the following metals can be extracted by smelting ?

Options

A. Aluminium
B. Magnesium
C. iron
D. None of these

Answer

To determine which of the following metals can be extracted by smelting, let's analyze the options provided: aluminum, magnesium, iron, or none of these.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Smelting**:
- Smelting is a metallurgical process that involves heating ores to extract base metals. It typically requires a reducing agent, often carbon in the form of coke, to facilitate the reduction of metal oxides to the metal.

2. **Identifying Metals**:
- The metals listed in the options are aluminum, magnesium, and iron. We need to assess which of these metals can be extracted through the smelting process.

3. **Analyzing Each Metal**:
- **Aluminum**: Aluminum is primarily extracted through the Hall-Héroult process, which involves electrolysis of alumina (Al2O3) dissolved in molten cryolite. Smelting is not the primary method for aluminum extraction.
- **Magnesium**: Magnesium is usually extracted by the electrolysis of magnesium chloride or by thermal reduction of magnesium oxide. Smelting is not commonly used for magnesium extraction.
- **Iron**: Iron is typically extracted from its ores (like hematite, Fe2O3, and magnetite, Fe3O4) through the smelting process in a blast furnace. Carbon (coke) is used as a reducing agent to convert iron oxides into iron metal.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Among the options provided, iron is the only metal that can be effectively extracted by smelting. Therefore, the correct answer is **option c: iron**.

### Final Answer:
Iron can be extracted by smelting.

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