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Extraction of Aluminium From Bauxite (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)): Revision Note

Caroline Carroll

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Cambridge (CIE) Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award): ChemistryCambridge (CIE) Chemistry

Extraction of aluminium from bauxite

  • Aluminium is a reactive metal, above carbon in the reactivity series 

  • Its main ore, is bauxite, which contains aluminium oxide

  • Aluminium is higher in the reactivity series than carbon, so it cannot be extracted by reduction using carbon

  • Instead, aluminium is extracted by electrolysis  

The electrolysis of aluminium

Aluminium extraction, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Diagram showing the extraction of aluminium by electrolysis

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    Caroline Carroll

    Author: Caroline Carroll

    Expertise: Physics Subject Lead

    Caroline graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Chemistry and Molecular Physics. She spent several years working as an Industrial Chemist in the automotive industry before retraining to teach. Caroline has over 12 years of experience teaching GCSE and A-level chemistry and physics. She is passionate about creating high-quality resources to help students achieve their full potential.