Question

give reason - carbon cannot reduce the oxides of sodium or aluminum

Answer 1

sodium and aluminium are more reactive than carbon.so it is not able to remove oxygen from sodium and aluminium oxide .carbon is below sodium and aluminium in reactivity series.

Answer 2

Answer:

Carbon cannot reduce oxides of sodium or magnesium because carbon is less reactive than magnesium or sodium. Carbon, which is a non-metal, is more reactive than zinc and can be placed just above Zn in the reactivity series. Hence, carbon can reduce the oxides of zinc and all other metals below zinc to form metals.