Question

Zirconium is refined by ____________.

Options

• liquation process

• Mand process

• electrolytic refining process

• van Arkel method

Answer 1

Zirconium is refined by van Arkel method.

Explanation:

Zirconium is refined using the van Arkel technique. By heating metal in an evacuated vessel with iodine, oxygen and nitrogen present as impurities are eliminated. On a tungsten filament heated to roughly 1800 K, the metal iodide volatilizes and is degraded. On the filament, pure metal is deposited.

\[\ce{\underset{(Impure)}{Zr} + 2l2 -> Zrl4}\]

\[\ce{Zrl4 -> \underset{\text{(Pure)}}{Zr} + 2l2}\]