Question

Silver is sometimes found in nature as large nuggets; more often it is found mixed with other metals and their ores. Cyanide ion is often used to extract the silver by the following reaction that occurs in basic solution: $$ \operatorname{Ag}(s)+\mathrm{CN}^{-}(a q)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \stackrel{\text { Basic }}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{Ag}(\mathrm{CN})_{2}^{-}(a q) $$

Short answer

In the given reaction, silver (Ag, solid) reacts with cyanide ion (CN⁻, aqueous) and oxygen gas (O₂) in a basic environment containing excess hydroxide ions (OH⁻). The cyanide ion forms a coordination complex with silver, producing a soluble silver cyanide complex (Ag(CN)₂⁻) that can be isolated from the mixture. Oxygen promotes oxidation, driving the reaction forward. After isolation, pure silver can be recovered using methods like zinc cementation or electrolysis to remove the cyanide ion.

Step-by-step solution

1. Understanding the reaction

In the given reaction, silver (Ag, in solid form) reacts with cyanide ion (CN⁻, in aqueous form) and oxygen gas (O₂) to produce a complex ion of silver cyanide (Ag(CN)₂⁻, in aqueous form).

2. Basic environment

It is mentioned that the reaction occurs in a basic solution. It means the solution contains an excess of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) which makes the environment favorable for the reaction to take place. The basic environment helps to maintain the stability of the cyanide ion, ensuring efficient extraction of silver.

3. Role of cyanide ion

Cyanide ion (CN⁻) plays the key role in this reaction. It forms a coordination complex with silver (Ag) atoms, which allows the silver to be separated from other metals and ores. The resulting complex ion (Ag(CN)₂⁻) is soluble in water, facilitating the isolation of silver from its mixtures.

4. Role of oxygen

Oxygen gas (O₂) participates in the reaction by promoting the oxidation of silver ions. The addition of O₂ helps drive the reaction forward, making it more efficient at extracting silver from its mixtures.

5. Isolation of silver cyanide complex

After the formation of the soluble silver cyanide complex (Ag(CN)₂⁻), the solution can then be separated from the mixture. This can be achieved through processes such as filtration or decantation.

6. Recovery of pure silver

The final step in this exercise involves recovering the pure silver from the silver cyanide complex. This can be done by methods like zinc cementation or electrolysis, which allow for the removal of the cyanide ion and retrieval of the elemental silver.

Key concepts

Cyanide Leaching

Cyanide leaching is a widely-used method for extracting silver from ores and minerals. This process involves using a cyanide solution to convert silver into a soluble form, allowing it to separate from the surrounding materials. The cyanide solution is often an aqueous mix, which helps in dissolving silver. This method is favored for its efficiency and ability to extract silver from low-grade ore. Aside from silver, cyanide leaching also finds application in gold extraction. However, handling cyanide requires great care due to its highly toxic nature. The leaching process is carefully controlled to maximize silver recovery while minimizing environmental impact.

Coordination Complex

A coordination complex forms when a metal atom bonds with surrounding ions or molecules. In the case of silver extraction, silver atoms join with cyanide ions to create the silver cyanide complex. The cyanide ions act as ligands, which means they donate electrons to the silver ion to form this structure. This bond is essential because it changes the properties of silver, making it soluble in water. This solubility enables the separation of silver from other materials in the ore. Coordination complexes are crucial in many chemical processes, not just for metal extractions. They can alter the solubility, color, and reactivity of elements, offering valuable application in various industries.

Basic Solution Extraction

The extraction of silver via cyanide leaching requires a basic solution. This means the solution needs to have an excess of hydroxide ions (OH⁻). A basic solution helps optimize the leaching process, ensuring that cyanide ions remain stable and effective at forming the coordination complex with silver. It also helps to maintain the reaction environment free from unwanted acidic impurities. By creating a stable environment, the basic solution assists in maximizing the efficiency of silver extraction. Basic solutions are not only significant in extraction processes but are widely used in various chemical reactions where a high pH is necessary for stability and reaction efficiency.

Silver Cyanide Complex

The silver cyanide complex, \( ext{Ag(CN)}_2^-\), is a coordination compound formed during the silver extraction process. This complex is crucial because it makes silver soluble in the leaching solution. Once formed, it allows for easy separation and recovery of silver from the ore mixture. The solubility of the silver cyanide complex plays an essential role in the extraction process, as it facilitates the handling and purification of silver. After it is separated, the complex undergoes further treatment to retrieve pure silver. This usually involves techniques like zinc cementation or electrolysis, where cyanide is removed, and silver is precipitated out of the solution.