Sodium is a highly reactive s-block metal. Unlike iron, which is extracted in a blast furnace using carbon, sodium cannot be extracted by heating sodium oxide with carbon. Instead, it must be extracted by the electrolysis of its molten compounds.
Explain why carbon cannot be used to extract sodium from sodium oxide.
Practise Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Obtaining and using metals with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 110 questions, matched to the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
