Question detail
Describe the role of cryolite in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide.
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At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Electrolysis
Question
Describe the role of cryolite in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide.
Answer
Cryolite acts as a solvent for aluminium oxide, allowing it to dissolve and facilitating the electrolysis process. It reduces the melting point of aluminium oxide, which helps in efficient extraction of aluminium.
Explanation
This question assesses the student's ability to describe the function of cryolite in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide. It requires knowledge of both the chemical properties of cryolite and its practical application in metal extraction processes.
Common mistake
Aluminium oxide dissolves in molten cryolite because it reacts chemically
Students often think aluminium oxide dissolves in molten cryolite due to a chemical reaction between Al₂O₃ and Na₃AlF₆, forming new compounds.
Aluminium oxide dissolves in molten cryolite simply because cryolite is a molten salt that provides a low‑melting, electrically conductive medium; the Al₂O₃ remains chemically unchanged and is only dispersed in the melt, not reacted with the cryolite.
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