Bauxite is an important ore used in metallurgy. It is the principal ore or mineral of which metal?

Introduction / Context:
Metallurgy involves extracting metals from their ores, which are naturally occurring minerals that contain metal compounds. Bauxite is one of the most famous ores mentioned in school chemistry. This question asks you to recall which metal is obtained from bauxite, a key fact both in general knowledge and in the study of the extraction of metals.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Bauxite is a mineral rich in aluminium compounds, mainly hydrated aluminium oxides.
• It is used on a large scale in the metal industry.
• We consider common metal ores taught in school, such as haematite for iron and bauxite for aluminium.
• The options list different metals, some of which have different characteristic ores.

Concept / Approach:
Bauxite is the principal ore of aluminium and typically contains minerals like gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore, which are all forms of aluminium hydroxide or aluminium oxide hydroxide. In the Bayer process, bauxite is treated to extract pure alumina (Al2O3), which is then reduced by electrolysis in the Hall Heroult process to produce metallic aluminium. Other metals in the options have different characteristic ores: beryllium from beryl, lead from galena, tin from cassiterite, and copper from minerals such as chalcopyrite and cuprite.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the common association that bauxite is the main ore of aluminium. Step 2: Identify aluminium among the options as a widely used light metal in packaging, construction, and transportation. Step 3: Recognise that beryllium, lead, tin, and copper are extracted from different ores, not from bauxite. Step 4: Confirm that refinery processes such as the Bayer process and Hall Heroult process are specifically designed for extracting aluminium from bauxite. Step 5: Select aluminium as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard textbooks on metallurgy always list bauxite as the chief ore of aluminium. They also discuss how impurities are removed during the Bayer process and how alumina is then electrolytically reduced to aluminium. In contrast, lead is obtained from galena (PbS), tin from cassiterite (SnO2), copper from ores like chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), and beryllium from beryl (a beryllium aluminium silicate). No reference source lists bauxite as an ore of these metals, which confirms that aluminium is the only correct choice here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Beryllium: Its common ore is beryl, not bauxite.
- Lead: Obtained mainly from galena, a lead sulfide ore.
- Tin: Extracted mainly from cassiterite, which is tin dioxide.
- Copper: Produced from ores such as chalcopyrite, malachite, and cuprite, not from bauxite.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up ores for different metals, especially if they have similar sounding names or if they are all oxides. To avoid confusion, it helps to link each major industrial metal to its main ore through simple associations: haematite for iron, bauxite for aluminium, galena for lead, and cassiterite for tin. Repeating these pairs a few times keeps them clear during exams and quick quizzes.

Final Answer:
Bauxite is the principal ore of Aluminium.