Explain why the carbon cannot reduce the oxides of Na or Mg?

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Solution

Oxides of Na or Mg cannot be reduced by Carbon
Carbon (C) cannot reduce the oxides of Sodium (Na) and Magnesium (Mg).
Because both Na and Mg are more reactive metals than carbon.
Both Na and Mg are placed above carbon in the reactivity series.
Reactivity series is an arrangement of elements in the decreasing order of their reactivities.
Hydrogen is considered as the reference element.
Metals placed above the hydrogen are more reactive metals, while the metals placed below the hydrogen are less reactive metals.
Hence, due to the lower reactivity of carbon, in the reactivity series, carbon is unable to reduce the oxides of Na and Mg.

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