Titanium is extracted from its main ore, rutile (TiO2\text{TiO}_2TiO2), via a multi-stage process.
Which statement correctly explains a chemical or industrial aspect of this extraction process?
Direct reduction of TiO2\text{TiO}_2TiO2 with carbon is avoided because titanium is more reactive than carbon, meaning the reduction is thermodynamically unfeasible at any temperature.
The reduction of titanium(IV) chloride (TiCl4\text{TiCl}_4TiCl4) using magnesium or sodium is carried out under an atmosphere of dry nitrogen to prevent reaction with atmospheric oxygen and water vapour.
TiO2\text{TiO}_2TiO2 is converted to TiCl4\text{TiCl}_4TiCl4 because the covalent, liquid nature of TiCl4\text{TiCl}_4TiCl4 allows it to be purified by fractional distillation before the reduction stage.
The extraction of titanium is a highly efficient continuous process, unlike the batch process used in the blast furnace for the extraction of iron, which dramatically reduces its overall energy cost.
110 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 5.1 Obtaining and using metals, covering 5.1.1 The reactivity series of metals, 5.1.2 Displacement reactions as redox reactions, 5.1.3 Extracting metals from ores by reduction, 5.1.4 Biological methods of metal extraction, 5.1.5 Resistance to oxidation and recycling metals, and 5.1.6 Life cycle assessment. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.