Question

Do the highly reactive metals participate in refining?

Please explain in detail

Answer 1

Metals extracted from various methods contains some impurities, thus they are required to be refined. Most of the metals are refined using electrolytic refining.

Electrolytic Refining: In the process of electrolytic refining a lump of impure metal and a thin strip of pure metal are dipped in the salt solution of metal to be refined. When electric current is passed through the solution, pure metal is deposited over thin strip of pure metal; from lump of impure metal. In this, impure metal is used as anode and pure metal is used as cathode.