What is the main purpose of smelting in metal processing?

The main purpose of smelting in metal processing is to extract metals from their ores through the application of high temperatures. This process involves heating the ore to a point where the desired metal is separated from impurities and can be collected in a liquid form. By raising the temperature, the chemical reactions that take place can effectively extract the metal, allowing for its subsequent purification and use.

Smelting is a critical step in the metallurgical process, as it allows for the conversion of raw natural resources into usable metals. This is especially significant in industries such as construction, automotive, and electronics, where specific metals are essential for manufacturing various products.

The other choices address processes that do not accurately define the primary goal of smelting. While cooling metals into solid shapes, reducing metal thickness, and mixing metals together are relevant in different contexts within metal processing, they do not represent the fundamental purpose of smelting, which is focused exclusively on the extraction of metals from ores.