Page 5 - 3. Lesson Notes - Ch-3 Mettalurgy-1

2. REDUCTION of ORE/Metal Oxides-
Reduction of metal from Metal Oxides is based on their position in the reactivity
series.
➢ Metals are extracted from their ores, basing on their reactivities.

a. Extraction of Highly reactive metals (Ores- chloride /oxides) –
➢ Highly reactive metals such as aluminium, calcium and sodium
are extracted from
their ores by the process of Electrolytic reduction.
➢ These highly reactive metals cannot be reduced by using carbon, as it is
less reactive than these metals.
That is, these metals have more affinity for oxygen than carbon.
➢ In this method the electric current is passed through the ores to get the
pure metals.

Electrolytic reduction is defined as the electrolysis process which is used to
extract highly reactive metals from molten chlorides or oxides.
Examples are- Electrolytic reduction of – i. Na From Molten NaCl,
ii. Al from molten Al2O3

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