Question

how is aluminium metal extracted from its ore?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

After crushing and milling of bauxite ore it is treated with NaOH solution at 175 °C converting Aluminum oxide to sodium aluminate

Al₂O₃ + 2 NaOH + 3 H₂O → 2 NaAl(OH)₄

Supersaturated solution of sodium aluminate is seeded with crystals of Al(OH)₃

NaAl(OH)₄ --------> Al(OH)₃ + NaOH

Al(OH)₃ is further calcined at Round 1000 °C to give pure aluminum oxide

2Al(OH)₃ --------> Al₂O₃ + 3H₂O

Regards