Which method is used to obtain metals like zinc and copper from their oxides?

The method used to obtain metals like zinc and copper from their oxides involves heating the oxides with carbon or carbon monoxide. This process is known as reduction. During this reaction, carbon acts as a reducing agent and reacts with the metal oxide to remove the oxygen, leaving behind the elemental metal.

For example, in the case of zinc oxide, when heated with carbon, it generates zinc and carbon dioxide. The reaction can be represented as follows:

[ \text{ZnO} + \text{C} \rightarrow \text{Zn} + \text{CO_2} ]

Similarly, for copper(II) oxide, heating with carbon produces copper metal and carbon dioxide:

[ \text{CuO} + \text{C} \rightarrow \text{Cu} + \text{CO_2} ]

This method is particularly effective for metals that are moderately reactive, such as zinc and copper, making it a widely utilized technique in metallurgy for the extraction of these metals from their respective ores.

The other methods listed are not suitable for extracting copper and zinc from their oxides in the same effective way. Electrolysis is typically used for very reactive metals, combining with acids would only extract metals like copper if they were in