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The S-Block Elements

Question
CBSEENCH11007100
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What difficulties arise in the extraction of lithium?

Solution

The lithium metals can not be extracted by the usual procedure due to the following reasons:
(i) The metal can not be obtained by the reduction of its oxide (Li2O or Na2O) because it is a strong reducing agent by itself and the common reducing agents such as carbon, hydrogen, magnesium and aluminium cannot be used.
(ii) Metal can not be obtained by the electrolysis of the aqueous solution of its salt like LiCl because the metal formed at the cathode will violently react with water to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen.
(iii) Even molten LiCl can not be used for the electrolysis because the melting point of the salt is so high that it is quite difficult to attain and maintain this temperature.
(iv) Chlorine, a by-product of electrolysis, will corrode the material of the vessel at this higher temperature.

Some More Questions From The s-Block Elements Chapter

What are s-block elements?

Why are alkali metals not found in nature?

Lithium shows similarities to magnesium in the chemical behaviour. What is the cause of this similarity?

What is the nature of lithium compounds?

Group 1 elements are called alkali metals. Why?

Why caesium can be used in photoelectric cell while lithium can not be?

In aqueous solution, Li+ ion has lowest mobility. Why?

Lithium has highest ionisation energy in group 1 elements, yet it is strongest reducing agent. Comment.

The softness of group 1 elements increases down the group with increasing atomic number. Give reason. 

Which is the most reactive alkali metal and why?

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