Question

Highly electropositive metals cannot be extracted by carbon reduction because these :

• A. metals form carbides
• B. metals do not react with carbon
• C. metal oxides are not reduced by carbon
• D. metals are not reduced by carbon

Answer 1

The correct option is C metal oxides are not reduced by carbon

The oxides of reactive metals cannot be reduced with carbon. This is because these metals have more affinity (more attraction) for oxygen than carbon. So, carbon is unable to remove oxygen from these metal oxides and hence, cannot convert them into free metals.

The highly reactive metals are extracted by the electrolytic reduction of their molten chloride.

Hence, option C is correct.