Chemistry
Give reasons for the following:
Coke is not preferred as a reducing agent in the reduction of the oxide of mercury to it's metal, but is preferred in the reduction of the oxide of zinc to it's metal.
Metallurgy
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Answer
Mercury is least electropositive and have least affinity for oxygen hence, its oxide can be reduced by heat alone whereas Zinc is more electropositive than Mercury and have more affinity for oxygen as compared to mercury hence, reduction of the oxide of zinc to it's metal can be done by coke.
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