Question

State why aluminium is extracted from its oxide by electrolysis while copper lead iron by reducing agents and mercury and silver by thermal decomposition

Answer 1

Explanation:

Aluminium has a great affinity towards oxygen and so cannot be reduced by carbon or carbon monoxide. So it is extracted from its oxide by electrolysis. Metals like copper, lead and iron are placed in the middle ofthe activity series and are moderately reactive and their oxides can be reduced by carbon, CO and hydrogen

whereas the metal which are least reactive can be extracted by simple thermsl decomposition