Is an ore a compound or mixture?

Answer 1

Ores such as iron oxide is a compound and not a mixture due to two reasons:

i. iron atoms being chemically bonded (not physically mixed) to oxygen atoms forming iron oxide;

ii. the separation of iron from its oxide requires a chemical reaction.

Answer 2

An ore is typically a mixture of minerals containing one or more valuable components that can be extracted for profit. It is not a compound because compounds are pure substances made up of two or more elements chemically bonded together in fixed ratios.