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Chemistry

Aluminium is obtained from alumina:

Answer the following :

(i) Electrolyte used

(ii) Write cathode reaction

(iii) Why anode is replaced

Metallurgy

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Answer

(i) Mixture of fused alumina (Al2O3), cryolite (Na3AlF6) and fluorspar [CaF2]

(ii) At cathode : 2Al3+ + 6e- ⟶ 2Al

(iii) The anodes are continuously replaced during the electrolysis because :

  1. The oxygen evolved at the anode escapes as a gas or reacts with the carbon anode.
  2. The carbon anode is thus oxidized to carbon monoxide which either burns giving carbon dioxide or escapes out through an outlet.
    2C + O2 ⟶ 2CO [2CO + O2 ⟶ 2CO2]
  3. The carbon anode is hence consumed and renewed periodically after a certain period of usage.

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