Some metallic oxides can be reduced by hydrogen, carbon and carbon monoxide and some cannot. Explain.
Answers
Answer:
The oxides of very reactive metals cannot be reduced with carbon. This is because these metals have more affinity to oxygen than carbon. ... Oxides of potassium, sodium, lithium, barium,calcium, magnesium and aluminum cannot be reduced by using carbon, carbon monoxide and hydrogen because of their high affinity for oxygen.
Explanation:
Oxides of highly active metals like potassium sodium calcium magnesium and aluminium have great affinity towards oxygen and so cannot be reduced by carbon or carbon monoxide or hydrogen.Metals in the middle of activity series iron zinc lead copper are moderately reactive and are not found in oxide form. These are found in nature as sulphides or carbonate. These are first converted into oxides and can be reduced by C CO or
H2ZnO + C + 400°c → Zn + COPbO + CO + heat → Pb + CO2
Metals low in the activity series is very less reactive and oxides of these metals are reduced to metals by heating alone