Question

Explain with suitable example the metal used to reduce the oxides of less reactive, moderately reactive, highly reactive metals.

Answer 1

(a) The less reactive metals which are quite low in metal reactivity series are extracted by the reduction of their oxides by heat alone.
Example - Extraction of mercury from Cinnabar

(b) The moderately reactive metals which are in the middle of reactivity series are extracted by reduction of their oxides with C, Al, Na or Ca.
Example - Extraction of aluminium from Bauxite.

(c) The highly reactive metals are extracted by the electrolytic reduction of their molten chlorides or oxides.
Example - Extraction of sodium from molten sodium chloride.