Which of the following metals are extracted by the electrolysis of their molten chlorides?
(a) Na and Hg (b) Hg and Mg (c) Na and Mg (d) Cu and Fe
Answer :
(c) Na and Mg
Sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) are highly reactive metals. They are not easily reduced by carbon and aluminium. Thus, they are extracted by electrolytic reduction or electrolysis of their molten chlorides (sodium chloride, NaCl, and magnesium chloride, MgCl2).