For the most part, ores contain metals in an oxidized form. Caro's acid is used to oxidize uranium and extract it from its ore. These two products are simple to process and have no negative environmental effects, thus making the reaction easy to control.
Caustic soda is used for the extraction cycle of aluminum oxide from bauxite.
In steelmaking Sodium carbonate is used as fluxing agent and to lower the sulfur and phosphorus contents during the refining of pig iron. Savings in calcareous materials and coke and greater regularity in the operation of blast furnaces are additional advantages. Moreover, it makes an indirect contribution to purifying the smoke. Calcium chloride reduces the corrosion of the refractory linings caused by the acidity of the molten slag in the blast furnaces. For non-ferrous metals Calcium chloride is used as a chemical intermediary for the production of titanium oxide, as well as zinc and tungsten.