Question

aluminum is above carbon in the reactivity series.Explain why the aluminum in aluminum oxide cannot be extracted using carbon.

Answer 1

Aluminum cannot be extracted using carbon due to its high position in the reactivity series. Instead, it is extracted through electrolysis of pure aluminum oxide.

Step-by-step explanation:

Aluminum is too high in the electrochemical series (reactivity series) to extract it from its ore using carbon reduction. The temperatures needed are too high to be economic. Instead, it is extracted by electrolysis. The ore is first converted into pure aluminum oxide by the Bayer Process, and this is then electrolyzed in solution in molten cryolite - another aluminum compound. The aluminum oxide has too high a melting point to electrolyse on its own. The usual aluminum ore is bauxite. Bauxite is essentially an impure aluminum oxide. The major impurities include iron oxides, silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide.

Answer 2

Aluminum is too high in the electrochemical series (reactivity series) to extract it from its ore using carbon reduction. The temperatures needed are too high to be economic. ... The aluminum oxide has too high a melting point to electrolyse on its own. The usual aluminum ore is bauxite.