Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
4 tones of bauxite, 150 Kg of sodium hydroxide and 600 Kg of graphite.
The aluminium compound in bauxite is aluminium oxide and the main impurity is iron (II) oxide. Aluminium is obtained by the electrolysis of aluminium oxide dissolved in cryolite.
(a) When bauxite is treated with sodium hydroxide solution, what happens to:
(i) the aluminium oxide?
(ii) The iron (III) oxide?
Solution
(i) Aluminium oxide being an amphoteric oxide reacts with sodium hydroxide solution to form soluble sodium meta aluminate.
\[\ce{\underset{\text{Alumina}}{Al2O3.2H2O} + 2NaOH + 2H2O ->\underset{\text{Sodium aluminate}}{2NaAIO2} + 3H2O}\]
(ii) Iron (III) oxide remains undissolved in the sodium hydroxide solution and settles down.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
An element L consists of molecules.
When L is heated with iron metal, it forms a compound FeL. What chemical term would you use to describe the change undergone by L?
Give reason for the following:
Carbon anodes are used in the electrolytic extraction of aluminium.
Name oxide of one metal which is reduced by (give equation): Reduction with heat alone
what is the function of cryolite in the extraction of aluminium, other than acting as a solvent for bauxite?
Name a non-metallic element which forms acidic and neutral oxides
Name a non-metallic element which has a metallic lustre
With reference to the reduction of copper (II) oxide , iron (II) oxide, lead (II) oxide and magnesium oxide; place the oxides in order of increasing ease of reduction.[i.e. first write the oxide that is most difficult to reduce and at last, the oxide, that is most easily reduced.]
Write balanced equation for the following reaction:
Reduction of lead (II) oxide by carbon.
Name the following:
The compound formed by the reaction between calcium oxide and silica.
The following sketch represents the electroplating of an Iron cup with Nickel metal.
Study the diagram and answer the following questions:
- During electroplating, the iron cup is placed at the cathode. Why?
- Name the ion that must be present in the electrolyte.
- State one condition that is necessary to ensure that the deposit is smooth, firm and even.
- Write the reaction taking place at the cathode.
- What change would you observe at the anode?