Question

Explain why alkali Metals and alkaline earth metals cannot be obtained by chemical reduction methods?

Answer 1

Alkali and alkaline earth metals are very strong reducing agents and therefore they cannot be extracted by reduction, since they possess very strong reactivity. This property they possess means they cannot be easily reduced by other elements.  Alkali metals are extremely electropositive meaning they cannot be displaced in the aqueous solutions of their salts.

Answer 2

Alkali and alkaline earth metals are themselves strong reducing agents and hence cannot be extracted by reduction of their oxides and alkaline earth metals.Alkali metals being highly electropositive cannot be displaced from the aqueous solutions of their salts by other metal.