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Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 3 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 3
Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. The extraction of aluminium is carried out by the electrolysis of aluminium oxide dissolved in molten cryo... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 3 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which material is used for each of the electrodes in this electrolysis?
Answer
In the electrolysis of aluminium oxide, the anode is typically made of carbon. This is because carbon has a high melting point and can withstand the extreme conditions during the electrolysis process.
For the cathode, carbon is also used. During the electrolysis reaction, aluminium ions are reduced to form aluminium metal at the cathode, which is also made of carbon. Thus, the correct answer is:
B: carbon (anode) and carbon (cathode).