電(dian)冶(ye)(ye)(ye)金是利用(yong)電(dian)能(neng)提取(qu)金屬的方(fang)法。根據利用(yong)電(dian)能(neng)效應的不同，電(dian)冶(ye)(ye)(ye)金又分(fen)為電(dian)熱(re)冶(ye)(ye)(ye)金和電(dian)化冶(ye)(ye)(ye)金。

　　（1）電熱(re)(re)(re)冶金：是利用電能轉變為熱(re)(re)(re)能進行(xing)冶煉的(de)方法。在(zai)電熱(re)(re)(re)冶金的(de)過程中，按其物理化(hua)(hua)學變化(hua)(hua)的(de)實質來說，與火法冶金過程差別不大，兩(liang)者的(de)主要(yao)區別只是冶煉時熱(re)(re)(re)能來源不同。

　　（2）電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)化冶金(jin)（電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解和電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)積）：是利用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)化反應，使(shi)金(jin)屬從含金(jin)屬鹽類的溶(rong)液或熔(rong)體(ti)中析(xi)出(chu)。前者稱(cheng)為溶(rong)液電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解，如銅的電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解精煉和鋅的電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)積，可列(lie)入(ru)濕法(fa)冶金(jin)一類；后者稱(cheng)為熔(rong)鹽電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解，不僅利用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能的化學(xue)效應，而且(qie)也(ye)(ye)利用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能轉變為熱(re)能，借以加熱(re)金(jin)屬鹽類使(shi)之成為熔(rong)體(ti)，顧也(ye)(ye)可列(lie)入(ru)火法(fa)冶金(jin)一類。

　　從(cong)礦石或精(jing)礦中提取(qu)金屬的(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)產(chan)工(gong)藝流程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)，常常是(shi)既有火(huo)法(fa)過程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)，又(you)有施法(fa)過程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)，即使是(shi)以火(huo)法(fa)為主(zhu)的(de)(de)(de)工(gong)藝流程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)，比(bi)如硫(liu)化(hua)銅精(jing)礦的(de)(de)(de)火(huo)法(fa)冶煉(lian)(lian)，最后尚(shang)需(xu)經過施法(fa)的(de)(de)(de)電解精(jing)煉(lian)(lian)過程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)；而在(zai)濕法(fa)煉(lian)(lian)鋅中，還需(xu)要(yao)用高溫(wen)氧化(hua)焙燒對硫(liu)化(hua)鋅精(jing)礦原料進行(xing)煉(lian)(lian)前處(chu)理。