Question

Carbon cannot reduce the oxides of Na or Mg.

Hint:

Carbon reduces oxides of less reactive metals only.

Answer 1

Reason: Carbon Cannot Reduce the Oxides of Sodium (Na) or Magnesium (Mg)

Carbon cannot reduce the oxides of sodium (Na) or magnesium (Mg) because both sodium and magnesium are more reactive than carbon and form highly stable oxides.

Detailed Explanation:

1. Reactivity Series Principle:
In the reactivity series of metals, sodium and magnesium are placed above carbon. This means they are more reactive and have a stronger tendency to combine with oxygen.

2. Stability of Their Oxides:
Sodium oxide (Na₂O) and magnesium oxide (MgO) are very stable compounds. The bond between these metals and oxygen is very strong.

3. Reducing Power of Carbon:
Carbon can act as a reducing agent only for metals that are less reactive than itself, such as zinc, iron, and copper. In such cases, carbon removes oxygen from the metal oxide.

Example of reduction by carbon:
ZnO + C → Zn + CO

4. Why Reduction is Not Possible for Na and Mg:
Since sodium and magnesium are more reactive than carbon, carbon does not have enough reducing ability to remove oxygen from their oxides.

Therefore, extraction of sodium and magnesium is done by electrolysis instead of reduction by carbon.

Conclusion:
Carbon cannot reduce the oxides of sodium or magnesium because these metals are more reactive than carbon and form very stable oxides that cannot be decomposed by carbon.