Question

why is aluminium extracted from alumina by electrolytic reduction and not by reducing with carbon?

Answer 1

Hello friend!!!

Carbon is a good reducing agent for the elements which are electronegative.

But for electropositive elements carbon is not a good reducing agent, but a good oxidizing agent.

If we use carbon to reduce alumina, it will do the opposite and oxidise that to form something else.

That's why, CaRbon is not used to reduce electropositive elements like the metals.


HOPE THIS HELPS..... :-)

Answer 2

that is why carbon can't be used to reduce electropositive elements