Carbon (coke) is commonly used as a reducing agent to obtain metals from their oxides. Highly reactive metals like sodium, calcium, and aluminium can displace metals of lower reactivity from their compounds in displacement reactions, functioning as powerful reducing agents due to their high reactivity.
What reducing agents are commonly used to obtain metals from their oxides, and how do highly reactive metals like sodium, calcium, and aluminium function as reducing agents in displacement reactions?
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Common reducing agents used to obtain metals from their oxides include carbon (in the form of coke or coal), hydrogen, and metals with higher reactivity. In displacement reactions, highly reactive metals like sodium, calcium, and aluminum function as reducing agents by displacing less reactive metals from their oxides. For example, when aluminum reacts with iron(III) oxide:
2Al(s) + Fe₂O₃ (s) → 2Fe(l) + Al₂O₃ (s)
Here, aluminum (Al) donates electrons to reduce iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃), resulting in the production of iron and aluminum oxide. The highly reactive metal serves as a strong reducing agent in the process.