Extraction of Aluminium

Aluminium is extracted using

electrolysis because it is too reactive
to be extracted using carbon.
 Raw materials
Ore – bauxite – aluminium oxide
The ore is dissolved in cryolite to lower the
melting point.
 The electrolysis cell
Carbon anode
Molten
aluminium oxide

Oxygen bubbles
cathode

Molten aluminium
Steel case

Temperature 900 C
 Reactions in the cell
 At the cathode
Al3+ + 3e-  Al
 At the anode
2O2-  O2 + 4e-
 The oxygen formed reacts with the carbon
anodes to form carbon dioxide.
 They have to be replaced periodically.
 Cost

Extracting aluminium is expensive because of the high

cost of electricity. Extraction takes place where there is a
cheap source of electricity e.g. hydroelectric power