Question

what is the role of cryolite in the extraction of aluminium

Answer 1

Cryolite is added as an impurity to the electrolyte. The cryolite, lowers the melting point of alluminium oxide to 980. The rule is as it is for all impurities they lower the melting point and raise the boiling point, so the reduction of the melting point allows the alluminium to melt at lower temperatures, making electrolysis work at lower temperatures, hence requires lesser energy, making the process cheaper, and more cost effective.he alluminium oxide has to be molten for its electrolytic extraction. To melt the electrolyte, heat has to be provided upto temperatures of 2200 decree celsius. The provision of this energy can be very expensive and cost-ineffective.  

Answer 2

acts as solvent for the electrolytic mixture


increases it's conductivity since pure alumina is almost a non conductor of electricity