1)Why is it possible to extract sodium and aluminium by use of electrolysis method and not by radiation like in the case of iron?
2)State 3 preliminary steps before extraction of any metal is carried out
3)Explain the preliminary process that are carried out during extraction of metals from their ores
1) Sodium and aluminium can be extracted by electrolysis because they are highly reactive metals that form stable compounds with oxygen. This makes them difficult to extract using traditional methods like reduction with carbon. On the other hand, iron is less reactive and can be extracted by using radiation because it forms a less stable oxide, making it more easily reducible.
2) Three preliminary steps before extraction of any metal are:
- Mining: Ores containing the metal are mined from the earth's crust.
- Concentration: The ore is concentrated to increase the percentage of metal in it.
- Purification: The ore is purified to remove impurities before extraction.
3) The preliminary processes carried out during the extraction of metals from their ores include:
- Crushing and grinding: The ore is first crushed and ground to a fine powder to increase the surface area for chemical reactions to occur.
- Roasting or calcination: The ore is heated in the presence of air to remove volatile impurities and convert the ore into an oxide.
- Reduction: The oxide is then reduced to extract the metal using a suitable reducing agent like carbon or carbon monoxide. This step is crucial in separating the metal from the ore.