Aluminium is a reactive metal so carbon cannot be used to displace it from its oxide, instead, electrolysis is used.
Electrolysis is when an electric current is passed through molten aluminium oxide to break it down.
The aluminium is first mined into an ore (containing aluminium oxide mixed with impurities) and the oxide must first be melted before electolysis can take place.
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Extracting titanium
Titanium is not particulary reactive so carbon can be used to displace it from its oxide, but this makes it very brittle.
Instead, a more reactive metal is used to do this: magnesium or sodium.
Before displacement of titanium can take place, the titanium must be processed and this involves seperating the titanium oxide and converting it into a chloride.
The chloride is then distilled to purify it and then the titanium is ready to be displaced.
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