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Conversion of a metal oxide to metal is called reduction. The reduction can be induced by many reagents. Many metal oxides convert to metals simply by heating
For example, silver oxide decomposes at 200 °C:
2 Ag2O → 4 Ag + O2
Most often, however, metals are obtained from their oxides by chemical reduction, i.e. by the addition of a chemical reagent. A common and cheap reducing agent is carbon in the form of coke. The most prominent example is that of iron ore smelting. Many reactions are involved, but the simplified equation is usually shown as:
2 Fe2O3 + 3 C → 4 Fe + 3 CO2
Apart from carbon, hydrogen or even other metals can also convert metal oxides to metal:
H2 + CuO → Cu + H2O
Zn + CuO → ZnO + C
Metal oxides can be reduced by organic compounds. This redox process is the basis for many important transformations in chemistry, such as the detoxification of drugs by the P450 enzymes and the production of ethylene oxide, which is converted to antifreeze. In such systems, the metal center transfers an oxide ligand to the organic compound followed by regeneration of the metal oxide, often by oxygen in the air.
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