Question

Define pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy.

Answer 1

Hint: All the mentioned processes are the ore extraction processes in general with some functionality differences. In normal form we can describe it as;
Pyro – high temp.
Hydro – water related.
Electro – electric related.

Complete answer:
Let us see all these definitions in detail;
Pyrometallurgy:
It is the process of extraction and purification of metals involving heat. The operations which involved roasting, calcining, smelting and refining.
The physical and chemical means of energy is used to maintain the required amount for the process to take place. This energy is usually provided in the form of combustion or from electrical heat.
The elements extracted by this process are iron, copper, zinc, tin, chromium and manganese.
Hydrometallurgy:
This involves aqueous solutions for the recovery of metals from ores or residual materials. Leaching is the most specific method involved in this process. Dilute sulfuric acid is the most common leaching agent used.
This process is used to extract more than 70 elements in today's date out of which gold, silver, copper and zinc are most common.
Electrometallurgy:
This is the method of metallurgy which uses electrical energy to produce metals by electrolysis. This is the last stage while the purification of metals which is followed after pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy processes.
This is the common extraction process for metals like aluminium and the metals above it in the electrochemical series. Copper is one of the common metals to be extracted by this process.

Note: Do note that the copper is the only observed metal till date which can be extracted by all the three processes all together or any of the three processes alone.
Usually, for many extractions pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy is followed by electrometallurgy to get the purest form of that respective metal.