Question

Explain giving one example, how highly reactive metals (which are high up in the reactivity series) are extracted.

Answer 1

The highly reactive metals are extracted by the electrolytic reduction of their molten chlorides or oxides.

Sodium metal is obtained through the electrolytic reduction of molten sodium chloride. Upon the passage of electric current through molten sodium chloride, it decomposes into sodium metal and chlorine gas.

\[\ce{2NaCl_{(l)} ->[Electrolysis] 2Na_{(s)} + Cl2_{(g)}}\]