Manganese can be extracted from its ores, rhodochrosite (MnCO3\text{MnCO}_3MnCO3) and alabandite (MnS\text{MnS}MnS).
Rhodochrosite decomposes on heating to produce manganese(II) oxide (MnO\text{MnO}MnO). The manganese oxide is then reduced by carbon in a furnace:
MnO+C→Mn+CO \text{MnO} + \text{C} \rightarrow \text{Mn} + \text{CO} MnO+C→Mn+COIdentify which species is reduced in this reaction, and explain your choice in terms of oxygen transfer.
When alabandite (MnS\text{MnS}MnS) is roasted in air, sulfur dioxide (SO2\text{SO}_2SO2) is produced as a waste gas. Write a chemical equation to show how sulfur dioxide reacts with water to form an acidic solution, and state one harmful effect of acid rain on the environment.
A mining company processes a sample of rhodochrosite containing 575 g575\text{ g}575 g of MnCO3\text{MnCO}_3MnCO3. Calculate the maximum mass of manganese (Mn\text{Mn}Mn) that can be obtained from this sample. (Relative atomic masses: Mn=55\text{Mn} = 55Mn=55, C=12\text{C} = 12C=12, O=16\text{O} = 16O=16)