Final answer:
Aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloys have been developed using the Hall-Héroult process for the production of aluminum. This process involves the electrolysis of a molten mixture of aluminum oxide and cryolite.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloys have been developed by using the Hall-Héroult process for the production of aluminum. This process involves the electrolysis of a molten mixture of aluminum oxide and cryolite, resulting in the formation of molten aluminum at the cathode. The reaction is as follows:
2 Al₂O₃ (1) + 3 C(s) → 4 Al(1) + 3 CO₂ (g)
Aluminum oxide is obtained from bauxite, which is the usual aluminum ore. The extraction of aluminum from its ore by electrolysis is a more economical method compared to carbon reduction due to the high reactivity of aluminum in the electrochemical series.