Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 317

Which one of the following industries uses bauxite as a raw material?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Correct Answer: A) Aluminium

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Banking Exams, State PSC

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

Bauxite is a naturally occurring, heterogeneous material composed primarily of one or more aluminium hydroxide minerals, along with the usual accompanying compounds of silicon, iron, titanium, and other elements. It is the world's main source of aluminium and is the raw material for the production of aluminium metal and alumina (aluminium oxide).

The process of extracting aluminium from bauxite is known as the Bayer process. This process involves several steps: 1. **Mining and Crushing**: Bauxite is mined from open-pit mines and then crushed into smaller pieces. 2. **Digestion**: The crushed bauxite is mixed with a caustic soda solution and heated under pressure. This process dissolves the aluminium compounds, leaving behind impurities such as iron and silicon. 3. **Settling and Clarification**: The solution is then cooled and settled to remove any remaining impurities. 4. **Precipitation**: The solution is treated with lime to precipitate the aluminium hydroxide. 5. **Calcination**: The precipitated aluminium hydroxide is heated to remove water and form alumina (aluminium oxide). 6. **Electrolysis**: The alumina is then melted and electrolyzed to produce aluminium metal.

Each of the other industries mentioned in the options uses different raw materials: - **Cement**: The primary raw materials for cement production are limestone, clay, and gypsum. These materials are crushed, mixed, and heated to form clinker, which is then ground into cement. - **Jute**: The jute industry primarily uses jute plants, which are a type of fiber crop. The fibers are extracted from the plant and processed into various products such as bags, ropes, and textiles. - **Steel**: Steel production primarily uses iron ore and coke (a form of carbon) as raw materials. The iron ore is smelted in a blast furnace to produce pig iron, which is then further processed to produce steel.

Therefore, bauxite is specifically used in the aluminium industry, making option A the correct answer.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This option is correct. Bauxite is the primary raw material used in the production of aluminium. The process of extracting aluminium from bauxite involves several steps, including the Bayer process, which is a chemical process for refining bauxite into alumina (aluminium oxide).
  • Option B: This option is incorrect. Cement production primarily uses limestone, clay, and gypsum as raw materials. Bauxite is not a raw material used in cement production.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect. The jute industry primarily uses jute plants as raw material. Bauxite is not used in the production of jute products.
  • Option D: This option is incorrect. Steel production primarily uses iron ore and coke as raw materials. Bauxite is not used in the production of steel.

Mnemonic: Bauxite for Aluminium: B for Bauxite, A for Aluminium

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