Explain why electrolytic reduction rather than chemical reduction is often used to obtain active metals from their compounds.

Electrolytic reduction is often used to obtain active metals from their compounds rather than chemical reduction due to several reasons. Let me explain why:

1. Enhanced Control: Electrolytic reduction provides better control over the reduction process. In chemical reduction, the reaction is typically spontaneous and difficult to control accurately. On the other hand, in electrolytic reduction, the reduction process can be carefully controlled by adjusting parameters such as voltage, current, and electrolyte concentration.

2. Selectivity: Electrolytic reduction allows for selective reduction. This means that if there are multiple metal ions present in a solution, electrolysis can target a specific metal ion to be reduced, while leaving others unaffected. Chemical reduction may not provide such selectivity, leading to the reduction of undesired metals.

3. Higher Purity: Electrolytic reduction generally yields higher purity metals. The process can be designed to reduce impurities present in the electrolyte selectively or prevent their deposition on the cathode. This results in obtaining more pure metals compared to the chemical reduction process, which often produces impure products.

4. Energy Efficiency: Electrolytic reduction can be energy-efficient compared to chemical reduction methods. This is because in electrolysis, the electric current provides the energy for the reduction reaction directly, whereas in chemical reduction, additional energy sources, such as heating, may be required. As a result, electrolytic reduction can be more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

To carry out electrolytic reduction, an electrolytic cell is required. This cell consists of an anode (positive electrode) and a cathode (negative electrode) immersed in an electrolyte solution. The metal compound to be reduced is dissolved in the electrolyte. When a direct electric current is applied, metal cations from the compound are attracted to the cathode, where they gain electrons and are reduced to form the active metal.

Overall, electrolytic reduction offers advantages in terms of control, selectivity, purity, and energy efficiency, making it a preferred method to obtain active metals from their compounds.

I suggest you look at the position of K^+ and Na^+ in a table of reduction potentials.

Chemistry