#ExtractionOfAluminiumFromBauxite

#Chemistry

#ExtractionOfMetal

Introduction

• Aluminium is a reactive metal, above carbon in the reactivity series 

• Its main ore, is bauxite, which contains aluminium oxide

• Aluminium is higher in the reactivity series than carbon, so it cannot be extracted by reduction using carbon

• Instead, aluminium is extracted by electrolysis  

The process of aluminium extraction by electrolysis

• Bauxite is first purified to produce aluminium oxide, Al2O3

• Aluminium oxide is then dissolved in molten cryolite 

  • This is because aluminium oxide has a melting point of over 2000 °C which would use a lot of energy and be very expensive

  • The resulting mixture has a lower melting point without interfering with the reaction

• The mixture is placed in an electrolysis cell, made from steel, lined with graphite

• The graphite lining acts as the negative electrode, with several large graphite blocks as the positive electrodes

• At the cathode (negative electrode): 

  • Aluminium ions gain electrons (reduction) 

  • Molten aluminium forms at the bottom of the cell

  • The molten aluminium is siphoned off from time to time and fresh aluminium oxide is added to the cell

Al3+ +  3e-   →  Al 

• At the anode (positive electrode):

  • Oxide ions lose electrons (oxidation)

  • Oxygen is produced at the anode:

2O2- →   O2 + 4e-

• The overall equation for the reaction is:

2Al2O3 → 4Al  +  3O2

• The carbon in the graphite anodes reacts with the oxygen produced to produce CO2

C (s) + O2 (g)   →   CO2 (g)

• As a result the anode wears away and has to be replaced regularly

• A lot of electricity is required for this process of extraction, this is a major expense