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Question
State as to why alkali metals are prepared by electrolysis of their fused chlorides?
Solution
It is not possible to prepare alkali metals by the chemical reduction of their oxides as they themselves are very strong reducing agents. They cannot be prepared by displacement reactions either (wherein one element is displaced by another). This is because these elements are highly electropositive. Neither can electrolysis of aqueous solutions be used to extract these elements. This is because the liberated metals react with water.
Hence, to overcome these difficulties, alkali metals are usually prepared by the electrolysis of their fused chlorides.
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