Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Manganese (Mn, atomic number 25).**
Manganese is a **transition metal** that does not occur free in nature. It is primarily found in **manganese ores** such as **pyrolusite (MnO₂), rhodochrosite (MnCO₃),** and **braunite (Mn₇SiO₁₂)**. Industrial extraction usually involves **reduction of manganese oxides** to produce metal or ferroalloys.
Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Manganese**:
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# **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Manganese**
### **A. Industrial / Large-Scale Extraction**
1. **Electrolytic Reduction of Manganese Dioxide (MnO₂ → Mn metal)** – Lab and industrial scale.
2. **Carbothermic Reduction in Blast or Electric Furnace (MnO₂ + C → Mn + CO)** – Common industrial route.
3. **Production of Ferro-Manganese (Fe-Mn Alloy) via Electric Furnace** – Main industrial method.
4. **Production of Silico-Manganese (Si-Mn Alloy) via Submerged Arc Furnace** – Alloying in steel industry.
5. **Aluminothermic Reduction of MnO₂** – Small-scale or specialty metal production.
6. **Reduction of MnO₂ with Hydrogen Gas** – Laboratory method.
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### **B. Chemical Methods**
7. **Reduction of MnO₂ with Sodium or Potassium** – Produces metallic manganese in lab.
8. **Reduction of Manganese Carbonate (MnCO₃) with Carbon** – Produces Mn metal or MnO.
9. **Reduction of Manganese Chloride (MnCl₂) with Sodium** – Lab-scale metallothermic reaction.
10. **Reduction of Manganese Oxide (MnO) with Magnesium** – Lab-scale method.
11. **Electrolytic Production from MnSO₄ Solutions** – Produces high-purity manganese metal.
12. **Reduction of Manganese Oxide with Aluminum Powder (Aluminothermic)** – Specialty lab-scale production.
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### **C. Extraction from Ores / Slags**
13. **Roasting Manganese Ore with Lime or Sodium Carbonate** – Converts Mn oxides to soluble forms.
14. **Leaching Roasted Ore with Sulfuric Acid (MnSO₄ Solution)** – Prepares solution for electrolysis.
15. **Precipitation of Mn(OH)₂ from MnSO₄ Solution** – Intermediate step for Mn metal.
16. **Reduction of Precipitated MnO or Mn₂O₃** – Lab or industrial step.
17. **Extraction from Manganese-Containing Steel Slag** – Recovery of manganese as MnO or Mn metal.
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### **D. Specialized / Experimental Methods**
18. **Hydrogen Reduction in Vacuum Furnace** – Produces metallic Mn with minimal oxidation.
19. **Plasma Reduction of MnO₂** – High-purity lab or experimental method.
20. **Solar-Thermal Carbothermic Reduction of MnO₂** – Experimental renewable energy method.
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✅ **Summary:**
* **Main industrial method:** Production of **ferro-manganese or silico-manganese alloys** in electric or submerged arc furnaces.
* **Metallic manganese:** Produced via **carbothermic or aluminothermic reduction** of Mn oxides or electrolysis of Mn salts.
* **Laboratory methods:** Hydrogen reduction, Mg/Na reduction, electrolysis.
* **Chemical routes:** Roasting + leaching → MnSO₄ → precipitation → reduction.
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Next in periodic order is **Iron (Fe, atomic number 26).**
Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Iron**?
