Describe the role of Graphite in the extraction process of aluminium.
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Solution
During the electrolysis of alumina, a Graphite rod is used as an anode and graphite line iron as a cathode.
In this process, aluminium is liberated at the cathode and oxygen at the anode.
This oxygen reacts with the graphite anode to form CO and CO2 preventing the oxygen evolved from oxidizing aluminium.
Thus the role of graphite in the electrometallurgy of aluminium is to prevent the liberation of oxygen so that the aluminium is not oxidized by oxygen.