Question

Explain the extraction of metals top in the activity series. Why carbon cannot be used as reducing agent to obtain Mg from MgO? ​

Answer 1

Answer :

The metals placed at top of the reactivity series are highly reactive. They readily reacts with oxygen, water etc.

For the metals belonging to low or middle part of the reactivity series. Carbon can be used to reduce their oxides as it is a reducing agent. But, in the case of metals like magnesium (highly reactive), such a reduction is not possible as these metals have a more affinity (the urge for combining) towards oxygen than carbon. Hence, carbon cannot be used as a reducing agent to obatin Mg from Mgo. Another process, called electrolytic reduction is used for the extraction of these metals.

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Electrolytic reduction: The highly reactive metals like magnesium & sodium are extracted through this process.

During this process, the molten chloride of the required metal is subjected to electrolysis to extract the metal. The extracted metal will get deposited at the cathode. Chlorine (from chloride) is liberated at the anode.

Answer 2

Answer:

Carbon can't be used as reducing agent for MgO because Magnesium is high in the reactivity series and metals high in the reactivity series have more affinity for oxygen than carbon. :) It is done by an electrolytic process, if im right. ... 2) then heating the oxide with the sulphide as reducing agent to get Copper.