Integration of chemistry with metallurgy courses in the innovative activity of an academic chair

The article addresses the issues of the interdisciplinary integration of some sections of chemistry with metallurgy in terms of leaching and extraction processes. The physico-chemical basis for those processes is considered, which rests on the series of chemical subjects (general, inorganic, organic, analytical and physical chemistry) learned during freshman classes. The teaching approach to those disciplines should embrace formation of knowledge of chemistry's fundamental laws and its significance in solving technological problems. The process of leaching of ores and concentrates is widely used in metallurgy for the transfer of metals in solutions for their subsequent precipitation. The initial information about correspondent processes is adduced in some chapters of “General Chemistry” and “Chemistry of metals”: the general properties of solutions, solutions of electrolytes, chemical properties of metals etc., that is the basic component of learning. The next object of integration is the parts of “Analytical Chemistry” and “Physical Chemistry” devoted to the learning of the thermodynamic and kinetic basis of processes. The similar model of the integration of chemistry and metallurgy is based on the example of the extraction - the process for recovering metal compounds from water phase into organic one with subsequent backwash. This process is carried out for isolation of metal compounds from impurities, concentration and separation. The article presents case studies of using processes mentioned in metallurgy. As an example of the integration of chemical and metallurgical disciplines, the chemical processes are described, which are the basis for obtaining chromium and the ferrochromium from the chromite. This process includes the reduction of ore smelting, subsequent leaching of cake and reduction of chromium. Such processes are described by redox reactions which are learned in “General Chemistry”. This article contains examples of the interdisciplinary integration of basic chapters of academic disciplines associated with problems concerned.