5. Typical pyrometallurgy diagrams

Pyrometallurgy schemes are completely different for non-reactive and reactive metals.

The former are metals with a relatively moderate affinity for oxygen and other metalloids: Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Au, Sn, Mn, Cr, Co, Sb, Cd, Hg, Ag, etc. The latter are metals with a relatively high affinity for oxygen and other metalloids: Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Au, Sn, Mn, Cr, Co, Sb, Cd, Hg, Ag, etc.

In contrast, reactive metals are those with a high affinity for oxygen and metalloids: these are the light metals (Al, Li, alkalis and alkaline earths), a semi-light metal (Ti) and the heavy metals (U, Zr, V, Ta, Nb). Two metalloids, Si and B, join this group.