Cinnabar, a naturally occurring sulphide mineral with the formula HgS, is an important ore of which metal?

Introduction / Context:
In metallurgy and general chemistry, it is important to know common ores of different metals. Ores are minerals from which metals can be extracted economically. Cinnabar is a well known bright red mineral, and recognising the metal associated with it is a standard examination point in general knowledge and chemistry questions. This question asks which metal is obtained from cinnabar, whose chemical formula is HgS.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The ore mentioned is cinnabar, with formula HgS (mercury sulphide).
- Options include metals such as lead, manganese, molybdenum, mercury and copper.
- We assume basic familiarity with common metal ores listed in school textbooks.
- Only one metal in the options is typically associated with HgS as its primary ore.

Concept / Approach:
Cinnabar is the chief ore of mercury. It consists mostly of mercury sulphide, HgS. When cinnabar is heated in air, the sulphur combines with oxygen to form sulphur dioxide, and mercury is released as vapour, which is then condensed to liquid metal. Other metals such as lead, manganese, molybdenum and copper have their own characteristic ores, like galena for lead or chalcopyrite for copper. None of these match the formula HgS, so the correct association is between cinnabar and mercury.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that cinnabar is a red mineral whose chemical composition is mercury sulphide, HgS. Step 2: Recognise that the presence of Hg in the formula indicates that the metal involved is mercury. Step 3: Remember that in extraction processes, cinnabar is roasted in air, converting sulphur to sulphur dioxide and leaving mercury, which is distilled and condensed. Step 4: Evaluate the options. Lead is usually obtained from ores such as galena (PbS), while copper comes from ores like chalcopyrite and malachite, not from HgS. Step 5: Conclude that cinnabar is an ore of mercury, making mercury the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard chemistry textbooks list common metal ores in tables or summaries. Under mercury, cinnabar (HgS) is almost always mentioned as the chief or most important ore. Under lead, galena (PbS) is listed, while manganese is associated with ores such as pyrolusite and molybdenum with molybdenite. Copper has a different set of ores, such as chalcopyrite and cuprite. Revisiting such tables confirms that cinnabar is firmly linked with mercury and is not used as a primary ore for the other metals mentioned.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lead is mainly extracted from galena, not from cinnabar. Manganese ores include minerals like pyrolusite, not mercury sulphide. Molybdenum is obtained from molybdenite and related minerals. Copper comes from various ores including chalcopyrite and malachite, not from HgS. None of these metals are extracted from cinnabar in basic metallurgical practice, so they do not answer the question correctly.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up different sulphide ores because many are coloured and share the sulphide suffix. Another pitfall is to focus only on the colour of the mineral and associate it with metals that form other red or brown compounds, such as iron or copper, without remembering the specific formula HgS. Memorising a small set of the most important ores and their formulas, such as cinnabar for mercury and galena for lead, helps avoid such confusion in multiple choice questions.

Final Answer:
Cinnabar (HgS) is an important ore of Mercury.