Question

The extraction of aluminum metal from the aluminum hydroxide in bauxite ore by the Hall-Héroult process is one of the most remarkable success stories of late 19th century practical chemistry, turning aluminum from a rare and precious metal into the cheap commodity it is today. In the first step, aluminum hydroxide reacts to form alumina and water: 2Al(OH)3(s)->Al2O3(s)+3H2O(g) In the second step, alumina and carbon react to form aluminum and carbon dioxide: 2Al2O3(s)+3C(s)->4Al(s)+3CO2(g) Write the net chemical equation for the production of aluminum from aluminum hydroxide and carbon. Be sure your equation is balanced.

Answer 1

Answer:

$4Al(OH)_{3}(s)+3C(s)\rightarrow 4Al(s)+3CO_{2}(g)+6H_{2}O(g)$

Explanation:

The steps involved in the extraction Al from Al(OH)3 are:

Step 1:

$2Al(OH)_{3}(s)\rightarrow Al_{2}O_{3}(s)+3H_{2}O(g)$

Step 2:

$2Al_{2}O_{3}(s)+3C(s)\rightarrow 4Al(s)+3CO_{2}(g)$

The net reaction which shows the extraction of Al from Al(OH)3 can be obtained by multiplying step 1 by a factor of 2 then adding it with step 2

Net reaction = Step 1 * 2 + Step 3

$4Al(OH)_{3}(s)\rightarrow 2Al_{2}O_{3}(s)+6H_{2}O(g)$

+ $2Al_{2}O_{3}(s)+3C(s)\rightarrow 4Al(s)+3CO_{2}(g)$

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$4Al(OH)_{3}(s)+3C(s)\rightarrow 4Al(s)+3CO_{2}(g)+6H_{2}O(g)$