Give the differences between electrolytic reduction and reduction with carbon.

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answered Jan 30, 2018 by Vikash Kumar (261k points)

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The differences between electrolytic reduction and reduction with carbon are as

Reduction with carbon	Electrolytic reduction
1. carbon is used as a reduction agent.	1. Electrolysis process is used for reduction.
2. Oxide of moderately reactive metals (e.g., Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni) are reduced by carbon.	2. Oxide (and chlorides) of highly reactive metals (e.g., Al, Na, Mg, Ca) are reduced by this process.
3. In this process, the metal oxide is mixed with carbon (coke) and heated in a furnace. ZnO + C → Zn + CO	3. In this process,molten metal oxide is electrolysed in an electrolytic cell where the cathode acts as a powerful reducing agent by supplying electrons to reduce metal ions into metal. Al³⁺ + 3e^- (Electrolytic reduction) → Al (Aluminium metal)