Isolation Of Elements

Copper is the most noble of the first row transition metals and occurs in small deposits in several countries. Ores of copper inculcated chalcanthite (CuSO\(_4\) . 5H\(_2\)O), atacamite (Cu\(_2\)Cl(OH)\(_3\)), cuprite (Cu\(_2\)O), copper glance (Cu\(_2\)S) and malacite (Cu\(_2\)(OH)\(_2\)CO\(_3\)). However, 80% of the world copper production comes from the ore of chalcopyrite (CuFeS\(_2\)). The extraction of copper from chalcopynite involves partial roasting, removal of iron and self-reduction.

In self-reduction, the reducing species is