Which of the following metals is commonly extracted by electrolysis?
Copper
Iron
Silver
Aluminium
aluminium is the metal commonly extracted by electrolysis.
Out of the metals listed, aluminium is the one that is most commonly extracted using electrolysis. The process of extracting aluminium from its ore, known as bauxite, involves the electrolytic reduction of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) dissolved in molten cryolite (Na3AlF6). The aluminium oxide is dissolved in the molten electrolyte and subjected to electrolysis. The electrolytic cell used for aluminium extraction is called the Hall-Héroult cell.
Copper, on the other hand, is typically extracted from its ore through a different process called smelting, which involves heating the ore in the presence of carbon to obtain the metal.
Iron is commonly extracted from its ore through processes such as blast furnace smelting or direct reduction methods.
Silver is usually obtained as a byproduct of other mining and refining processes, such as the extraction of copper, lead, or zinc. Electrolysis is not the primary method used for silver extraction.
Therefore, among the metals listed, aluminium is the one that is commonly extracted using electrolysis.