Metals lower than carbon in the reactivity series are extracted using what method?

Metals that are lower than carbon in the reactivity series can be extracted using carbon reduction, also known as reduction by carbon. This method is effective for metals that do not possess a high reactivity, allowing them to bond with oxygen in their ores. During the extraction process, carbon is used to displace the metal from its oxide.

In this reaction, the carbon reacts with the oxygen in the metal oxide to form carbon dioxide, thereby reducing the metal oxide to the pure metal state. For instance, iron oxide can be reduced to iron using carbon in the form of carbon monoxide or coke, which is a common practice in blast furnaces. This process is much less energy-intensive compared to electrolysis, which is typically used for more reactive metals such as aluminum.

Other methods mentioned do not apply as effectively for metals lower than carbon. For example, electrolysis requires significant amounts of energy and is used primarily for extracting more reactive metals, while acid displacement involves reactions that are not typically utilized for the extraction of elements from their ores.