Which of the following is carbonate ore of zinc ?

Question

Accepted Answer

Calamine is the correct answer as the carbonate ore of zinc. Let's delve into the details to understand why Option 2 is correct and why the other options are incorrect.

1. **Calamine (Option 2)**: Calamine is a mineral that primarily consists of zinc carbonate (ZnCO₃). It is one of the most common carbonate ores of zinc. The presence of the carbonate group (CO₃) in its chemical composition is what classifies it as a carbonate ore. This makes calamine the correct answer to the question.

2. **Zinc blende (Option 1)**: Zinc blende is another name for the mineral sphalerite, which is primarily composed of zinc sulfide (ZnS). It is not a carbonate ore but rather a sulfide ore. The absence of the carbonate group in its chemical structure makes it incorrect in the context of this question.

3. **Sphalerite (Option 3)**: As mentioned above, sphalerite is the same as zinc blende and is composed of zinc sulfide (ZnS). It is a sulfide ore, not a carbonate ore. Therefore, it does not fit the criteria of being a carbonate ore of zinc.

4. **Zincite (Option 4)**: Zincite is a mineral composed of zinc oxide (ZnO). It is an oxide ore, not a carbonate ore. The lack of a carbonate group in its chemical composition makes it incorrect for this question.

In summary, calamine is the only option among the given choices that is a carbonate ore of zinc, which is why Option 2 is the correct answer.