Question

Give appropriate scientific reasons for the following statement :
Zinc oxide can be reduced to zinc by using carbon monoxide, but aluminium oxide cannot be reduced by a reducing agent.

Answer 1

Zinc is lower in the reactivity series, so it is comparatively less reactive. Hence, it is reduced by using carbon monoxide. But aluminium is very reactive; hence, it cannot be reduced by using a reducing agent and it can be reduced only by electrolytic reduction.