Question

Why oxides of highly reactive metals cannot be reduced by carbon?

Answer 1

The oxides of very reactive metals cannot be reduced with carbon because:-

1. Metals have more affinity (more attraction) for oxygen than carbon.
2. Carbon is unable to remove oxygen from these metal oxides and hence cannot convert them into free metals.
3. The highly reactive metals are extracted by the electrolytic reduction of their molten chloride.
4. The highly reactive metals are those which lie at the top in the reactivity series. Metals like potassium, sodium, calcium, and aluminum are known as highly reactive metals.
5. These highly reactive metals are generally present in the form of their oxides. The oxides of these metals are very stable in nature.
6. The metals that are less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their oxides by reduction of their oxides with carbon. Iron can be obtained by reduction with carbon.
7. Highly reactive metals cannot be obtained from their oxides by heating ( reducing) them with carbon.