Question

Which of the following metals is extracted by the electrometallurgical method? (There are multiple correct answers for this question)
(a)- Cu
(b)- Fe
(c)- Na
(d)- Ag

Answer 1

Hint: Electrometallurgical is a method in which the metals are reduced from their molten state by the process of electrolysis. The metals that are active in nature can be reduced by this process.

Complete Solution :
Some principles are applied in the reduction of the metal from its molten state or its solution. These reductions are carried out by electrolysis. This process is known as Electrometallurgical. The electrochemical process can be understood by the equation given below:
$\Delta {{G}^{\circ }}=nF{{E}^{\circ }}$

- In which n is the number of electrons used for the reduction process. ${{E}^{\circ }}$ tells the standard electrode potential of the redox couple ($M/{{M}^{n+}}$) present in the system. The elements having large values of electrode potential are very reactive metals that are very difficult to reduce. When the difference in the electrode potential of two redox couple reactions is positive and standard change in free energy of the reaction is negative then the metal whose reactivity is higher will replace the metal whose reactivity is lower. The simple electrolysis reaction is given below:
${{M}^{n+}}+n{{e}^{-}}\to M(s)$

- The selection of the electrodes depends on the reactivity of the metals. So this method is used for the extraction of reactive metals like magnesium, copper, calcium, aluminium, sodium, etc.
So, the correct answer is “Option A and C”.

Note: In the process of electrometallurgy, an electrolyte is used which serves as the reducing agent. One of the most common electrometallurgical methods is the Hall and Heroult process, in which aluminium is extracted from alumina.