Question

Manganese metal is extracted from manganese dioxide by a reduction process by making use of ______.

Options

• carbon

• hydrogen

• electrolysis

• aluminium

Answer 1

Manganese metal is extracted from manganese dioxide by a reduction process by making use of aluminium.

Explanation:

Manganese is a highly reactive metal, making its bond with oxygen too strong to be broken by carbon reduction. Instead, more reactive aluminium powder is used as a powerful reducing agent to displace the manganese. This highly exothermic displacement reaction releases intense heat, which melts the newly formed manganese metal into its pure liquid state.