6 The list shows some metals in order of reactivity - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 6
6 The list shows some metals in order of reactivity.
most reactive
sodium
aluminium
zinc
iron
copper
gold
(a) Aluminium and iron are extracted by reduction of thei... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6 The list shows some metals in order of reactivity - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
State what is meant by reduction.
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Answer
Reduction refers to the process of losing oxygen or, alternatively, it can be defined as the gain of electrons. In chemical reactions, it typically involves the removal of oxygen from a substance.
Step 2
Explain why aluminium needs to be extracted from its ore by electrolysis, rather than by heating with carbon.
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Answer
Aluminium is situated high in the reactivity series, making it more reactive than carbon and iron. As a result, traditional reduction methods such as heating with carbon are ineffective because carbon cannot displace aluminium from its oxide. To achieve reduction, a more powerful method, such as electrolysis, is necessary to overcome the strong bonding in aluminium oxide.
Step 3
Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
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Answer
The balanced chemical equation for the reduction of iron(III) oxide using carbon is:
