Episode 6 — Electrochemical Reactions

Aluminium Production

Learners will be able to:

• Identify the most common metal in the Earth's crust and explain why it was once considered more precious than gold. • Describe how aluminium is found naturally as aluminium 3+ ions due to its high reactivity. • Explain why water cannot reduce aluminium 3+ ions back into aluminium metal. • Balance the atoms and charges in an electrolytic reaction involving the reduction of aluminium 3+ ions at a cathode. • Identify the major problem with using alumina (aluminium oxide) directly for electrolysis and explain how cryolite is used to overcome this issue.