Question

Which method do you suggest for extraction of high reactivity metals? Why?

Answer 1

Hint: The high reactivity metals being unreactive to carbon are not reduced by it and in their molten state, a pure form can be obtained by separating its ions.

Complete step by step answer:
In nature, the ores are naturally occurring rocks that contain minerals such as metals and other compounds in sufficient amounts. Thus, the metals found in the combined state in the ores are extracted from it, where the extraction method depends upon the reactivity of the metal and stability of its ore. It is generally present as oxides or sulphides in its combined state.
Depending on the reaction of the metals with acids and water, their reactive strength is determined giving us the following activity series. Thus, the reactivity order of a metal with respect to the other metals as follows:
\[\begin{align}
& Li\text{ }Cs>\text{ }Rb>\text{ }K\text{ }>Ba>\text{ }Sr>\text{ }Ca>\text{ }Na>\text{ }Mg>\text{ }Be>\text{ }Al> \\
 & C>\text{ }Zn>\text{ }Cr>\text{ }Fe>\text{ }Cd>\text{ }Co>\text{ }Ni>\text{ }Sn>\text{ }Pb>\text{ } \\
 & H>\text{ }Sb>\text{ }As>\text{ }Bi>\text{ }Cu>\text{ }Ag>\text{ }Pd>\text{ }Hg>\text{ }Pt>\text{ }Au \\
\end{align}\]
                

In this series, the metals above carbon are the highly reactive metals and cannot be reduced by carbon. So, for the extraction of these metals from its ores, the electrolysis method is undertaken.
In the extraction process through electrolysis, the electrolytic reduction of the metal from its salt takes place. As the electric current is passed through molten state, which acts as the electrolyte having the ions free to move and the metal being positively charged gets deposited on the cathode. Thus, a pure form of the metal is obtained.
Therefore, the highly reactive metals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and aluminium are extracted by electrolysis.

Note: The metals below carbon can be extracted by reduction reaction with carbon as they are less reactive than it and the metals below hydrogen do not need extraction as they are present natively in their pure form.