Explain:
(i) Zone refining
(ii) Column chromatography
Explain:
(i) Zone refining
(ii) Column chromatography

Solution 4:
(i) Zone refining: This method is used for production of semiconductors and other metals of very high purity, e.g., \mathrm{Ge}, \mathrm{Si}, \mathrm{B}, \mathrm{Ca} and \mathrm{In}. It is based on the principle that the impurities are more soluble in the molten state (melt) than in the solid state of the metal. The impure metal in the form of bar is heated at one end with a moving circular heater, as the heater is slowly moved along the length of the rod, the pure metal crystallises out of the melt whereas the impurities pass into the adjacent molten zone. This process is repeated several times till the impurities are completely driven to one end of the rod which is then cut off and discarded.
(ii) Chromatography: It is based on the principle that the different components of a mixture are adsorbed to different extents on an adsorbent. In column chromatography, an adsorbent, such as alumina \left(\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}\right) or silica gel is packed in a column. This forms the stationary phase. The mixture to be separated is dissolved in a suitable solvent (mobile phase) and applied to the top of the column. The adsorbed components are extracted (eluted) from the column with a suitable solvent (eluent).