Question

Carbon cannot be used as reducing agent to obtain magnesium from magnesium oxide .why...

Answer 1

This is because magnesium has more affinity than carbon for oxygen which simply means that magnesium attracts oxygen more strongly towards itself than carbon.
I hope it helps.....

Answer 2

• Magnesium is more reactive than carbon. It is higher than carbon in the reactivity series and carbon has high affinity for oxygen.

• Hence, Carbon cannot displace magnesium from magnesium oxide.

• So, we have to use other methods to obtain magnesium from magnesium oxide.

• For obtaining magnesium oxide we can use electrolytic reduction process.

• 2MgO -------------> 2Mg  +  O2
•            Electricity

• Electrolytic reduction is the process used to obtain metals that are high in the reactivity series like Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium etc.

• It is done by passing electricity on the oxide to obtain the metal and the oxide is converted into oxygen in gaseous state.

• Hence, the solid metal is only obtained in the end which is magnesium in this case.