Mnemonic 1: Calcination vs Roasting
"Calcination = Carbonates in Closed air → CO2" "Roasting = Running air (excess) → SO2"
- Calcination: C for Carbonates, Closed (no air), CO2
- Roasting: R for Running air, SO2 (sulphide ores)
Mnemonic 2: Ellingham — "Go LOW to GO Free"
The metal whose oxide line is LOWER on the diagram is MORE stable as an oxide and is a BETTER reducing agent. "If your line is LOW, you can reduce oxides ABOVE you."
Mnemonic 3: Anode Mud Metals
"Gold and Silver Stay (in anode mud) because they are Too Noble to Dissolve" Counterpart: "Zinc, Iron, Nickel Dissolve but Don't Deposit"
Mnemonic 4: Mond Temperatures — "33 forms, 44 decomposes"
- 330–350 K → forms Ni(CO)4 (remember: 33x forms)
- 450–470 K → decomposes (remember: 44x decomposes) Higher temperature always decomposes.
Mnemonic 5: Ore Types by Common Ending
- Sulphide → "-blende," "-ite" (galena, pyrite, blende)
- Carbonate → "-ite" (calamine, siderite)
- Halide → "-ite" (cryolite)
- Oxide → "-ite" (haematite, magnetite)
Note: Most endings are "-ite" — so remember the exceptions like zinc blende (sulphide) and bauxite (hydrated oxide).
Mnemonic 6: Self-Reduction "Cu Reduces Cu"
"Copper sulphide reduces copper oxide — copper extracts itself!" — This is why it's called self-reduction.
Mnemonic 7: Zone Refining Metals — "Si Ge Ga"
"Semiconductors Get A-grade purity by Zone refining" Si → Ge → Ga (periodic table order, Group 14 → 13)
Mnemonic 8: Froth Flotation Reagents — "C-D-A-F"
Collector → Depressant → Activator → Frother (CDAF = "Carefully Designed Automated Flotation")