During extraction of aluminium from bauxite:

Q. The following is an extract from 'Metals in the service of man, Alexander and street / Pelican 1976' : Alumina (aluminium oxide) has a very high melting point of over 2000°C, so that it cannot readily be liquefied. However,conversion of alumina to aluminium and oxygen, by electrolysis, can occur when it is dissolved in some other substance.
(a) Which solution is used to react with bauxite as a first step in obtaining pure aluminium oxide?
(b) The aluminium oxide for the electrolytic extraction of aluminium is obtained by heating aluminium hydroxide. Write the equation for this reaction.
(c) Name the element which serves both as the anode and the cathode in the extraction of aluminium.
(d) Write the equation for the reaction that occurs at the cathode during the extraction of aluminium.
(e) Write the equation for the reaction that occurs at the cathode during the extraction of aluminium by electrolysis.
(f) Give the equation for the reaction that occurs at the anode when aluminium is purified by electrolysis.

Q. The following is an extract from 'Metals in the Service of Man, Alexander and Street/Pelican 1976':
'Alumina (Aluminium oxide) has a very high melting point of over 2000 C so that it cannot readily be liquefied. However, conversion of alumina to aluminium and oxygen, by electrolysis, can occur when it is dissolved in some other substance'.
(a) Which solution is used to react with bauxite as a first step in obtaining pure aluminium oxide?
(b) The aluminium oxide for the electrolytic extraction of aluminium is obtained by heating aluminium hydroxide. Write the balanced chemical equation for this reaction.
(c) Name the element which serves both as anode and the cathode in the extraction of aluminium.
(d) Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction that occurs at the cathode during the extraction of aluminium by electrolysis.
(e) Give the balanced chemical equation for the reaction which occurs at the anode when aluminium is purified by electrolysis.

Q. In the extraction of aluminium:
(i) Name the process of concentration of bauxite
(ii) Write the cathode reaction in electrolytic reduction of alumina
(iii) write the function and formula of cryolite in the extraction of aluminium.
(iv) Draw the diagram of extraction of aluminium.

Q. (i) Name the solution used to react with Bauxite as a first step in obtaining pure aluminium oxide, in the Baeyer's process.
(ii) Write the equation for the reaction where the aluminium oxide for the electrolytic extraction of aluminium is obtained by heating aluminium hydroxide.
(iii) Name the compound added to pure alumina to lower the fusion temperature during the electrolytic reduction of alumina.
(iv) Write the equation for the reaction that occurs at the cathode during the extraction of aluminium by electrolysis.
(v) Explain why it is preferable to use a number of graphite electrodes as anode instead of a single electrode, during the above electrolysis.

Q. In order to obtain one tonne of aluminium, the following inputs are required:
4 tonnes 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 (III) 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?
(b) (i) Name the process used for the purification of bauxite.
(ii) Write the equation to show the action of heat on aluminium hydroxide.
(c) (i) Write the formula of cryolite.
(ii) Write down the word which correctly completes the following sentence:
"By dissolving aluminium oxide in cryolite, a __________ (conducting/non-conducting) solution is produced.
(iii) Why is so much graphite required for this electrolytic process?
(iv) Write the equation for the reaction which takes place at the cathode.
(d) In construction work, why is the alloy of aluminium, duralumin used rather than pure aluminium.