Question

Assertion: Carbon cannot reduce the oxides of Na or Mg.
Reason: Sodium and magnesium have higher affinity towards oxygen than towards carbon because these are highly reactive metals
A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but reason is not the correct explanation for assertion.
C. Assertion is correct but reason is incorrect.
D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.

Answer 1

Hint: Carbon is less reactive metal, if we see the reactivity series sodium and magnesium are highly reactive metals, and carbon is a strong oxidizing agent. Therefore, it cannot reduce the strong metal oxides.

Complete step by step answer:
- Firstly, we will see the reactivity series i.e. K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > C > Zn > Fe.
- Now as mentioned in the series we can say that sodium (Na), and magnesium (Mg) are placed at the upper position, and carbon is at the lower position.
- Thus, it means Na, and Mg are highly reactive metals. So, we can also say that the oxides of sodium, and magnesium are very strong.
- Carbon is a non-metal and is not a strong reducing agent. It can reduce the zinc as zinc is less reactive than carbon.
- Now, the reactivity series clearly explains that carbon cannot reduce the sodium, and magnesium due to their highly reactive nature.
- Thus, Na, and Mg represents higher affinity towards the oxygen because oxygen is highly reactive and it can easily reduce these metals.
- So, the correct option is A i.e. assertion and reason both are correct and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.

Note: Don’t get confused, just write down the correct reactivity series and by the mention of reactivity series we can see that the carbon is less reactive than the mentioned elements.