Metals high up in the reactivity series, such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, and aluminium, cannot be obtained from their compounds by heating with carbon because these metals have a stronger affinity for oxygen than carbon, making carbon ineffective as a reducing agent.
Why can’t metals high up in the reactivity series be obtained from their compounds by heating with carbon?
Share
Metals high up in the reactivity series, such as aluminum, magnesium, and calcium, cannot be obtained from their compounds by heating with carbon due to thermodynamic considerations. These metals have a strong affinity for oxygen, and their oxides are thermodynamically more stable than the corresponding carbonates or sulfides. When heated with carbon, these metals’ oxides are not effectively reduced, and the carbon reduction process is insufficient to overcome the thermodynamic stability of the metal oxides. Therefore, alternative methods, such as electrolysis or more reactive reducing agents, are required to extract metals high in the reactivity series from their compounds.