Calamine is ore of which metal?

Question

Accepted Answer

Calamine is an ore of **Zinc**.

Here's a detailed explanation:

**Justification for Option 3 (Zinc):**
Calamine is a historical and common name for two distinct zinc minerals that are often found together and were historically confused:
1.  **Smithsonite (ZnCO₃):** This is zinc carbonate.
2.  **Hemimorphite (Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂·H₂O):** This is a zinc silicate.
Both of these minerals are significant sources of zinc metal. Therefore, when "Calamine" is referred to as an ore, it specifically points to its primary metallic content, which is zinc. Zinc is extracted from these minerals through various metallurgical processes.

**Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

*   **Option 1 (Magnesium) is incorrect:** Calamine does not contain magnesium. Common ores of magnesium include Magnesite (MgCO₃), Dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂), and Carnallite (KMgCl₃·6H₂O).
*   **Option 2 (Copper) is incorrect:** Calamine does not contain copper. Common ores of copper include Chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂), Chalcocite (Cu₂S), Malachite (Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂), and Azurite (Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂).
*   **Option 4 (Iron) is incorrect:** Calamine does not contain iron as its primary metal. Common ores of iron include Hematite (Fe₂O₃), Magnetite (Fe₃O₄), Limonite (FeO(OH)·nH₂O), and Siderite (FeCO₃).