Question

The following questions relate to the extraction of aluminum by electrolysis:

Give the equation for the reaction that takes place at the cathode.

Answer 1

1. The ore of Aluminum is Bauxite($\mathit{A}{\mathit{l}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathit{O}}_{\mathbf{3}}$).
2. The Aluminum ions produced by the dissociation of Aluminum oxide or Bauxite accept electrons at the cathode.
3. And by the reduction Aluminum metal is formed.
4. So reaction taking place at the cathode is,

$$\begin{gathered} \underset{Aluminumoxide}{A{l}_2{O}_3\left(s\right)}\leftrightarrow \underset{Aluminumions}{2A{l}^{3+}\left(aq\right)}+\underset{Oxygenion}{3O^{2-}} \\ Cathode:2A{l}^{3+}\left(aq\right)+6e^{-}\to \underset{Aluminum}{2Al\left(s\right)} \end{gathered}$$