The chemical process that separates metal from rock is known as smelting. Smelting is a form of pyrometallurgy, where heat and a chemical reducing agent are used to extract metal from its ore. The reducing agent can be a variety of substances, such as carbon, hydrogen, or carbon monoxide.

The smelting process involves heating the ore to a high temperature in the presence of the reducing agent. This causes the metal to separate from the rock and form a molten pool at the bottom of the furnace. The molten metal can then be poured off and cast into various shapes.

Smelting is a common industrial process used to extract a variety of metals from their ores, including iron, copper, aluminum, and zinc. The specific smelting process used depends on the type of metal being extracted.