Which of the following statements is correct based on the Ellingham diagram?
The reduction of to carbon monoxide
is thermodynamically favourable.
The reduction of to iron
is not possible at any temperature.
The reduction of to mercury
is thermodynamically favourable at all temperatures.
The reduction of to copper
is not possible.
A) The reduction of to carbon monoxide
is thermodynamically favourable: This statement is incorrect. According to the Ellingham diagram, the formation of
from carbon
and oxygen
is thermodynamically favourable (below the line representing
). However, the reduction of
to
is not thermodynamically favourable, as it requires energy input.
B) The reduction of to iron
is not possible at any temperature: This statement is incorrect. According to the Ellingham diagram, the reduction of
to
is thermodynamically favourable (below the line representing
at temperatures below the melting point of iron. Therefore, the reduction of
to
is possible under suitable conditions.
C) The reduction of to mercury
is thermodynamically favourable at all temperatures: This statement is correct. According to the Ellingham diagram, the formation of
from mercury
and oxygen
lies above the line representing
. Therefore, the reduction of
to
is thermodynamically favourable at all temperatures.
D) The reduction of to copper
is not possible: This statement is incorrect. According to the Ellingham diagram, the reduction of
to
is thermodynamically favourable (below the line representing
). Therefore, the reduction of
to
is possible under suitable conditions.