Question

Give appropriate scientific reason for the following statement:

Zinc oxide can be reduced to zinc by using carbon monoxide but aluminum oxide cannot be reduced by any reducing agent.

Answer 1

1. Zinc is a less reactive metal than Aluminum.
2. Zinc oxide is also not so stable compound.
3. So it can be easily reduced even with carbon monoxide.
4. But Aluminum is a reactive metal and the oxide formed by Aluminum is a stable compound.
5. So it can not be easily reduced by reducing agents.
6. To reduce Aluminum oxide electrolytic reduction must is used.
7. So the reason is Aluminum oxide is stable while Zinc oxide is not stable so it can be easily reduced.