JEE Main Chemistry question

Sodium is manufactured by the electrolysis of a fused mixture of sodium and calcium chlorides in a steel cell using a graphite anode and an iron cathode. Calcium is not liberated since:

(A)It belongs to a higher group in the periodic table
(B)It combines with the liberated chlorine to form calcium chloride again
(C)Its discharge potential under these conditions is higher than that of sodiumCorrect
(D)It is more readily fusible than sodium chloride

Answer: (C)

Solution

In Down's cell, although both and are present, sodium is preferentially discharged at the cathode because, under the operating conditions, has a higher discharge potential (is harder to reduce) than , so sodium alone is selectively liberated. The explanation is not about relative

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Question ID VK-137936