Calcium is usually extracted by the electrolysis of its
Answer Details
Calcium is usually extracted by the electrolysis of its chloride.
Electrolysis is a process that involves the use of electrical energy to break down a compound into its constituent elements. In the case of calcium, the most common compound that it is extracted from is calcium chloride (CaCl2). Calcium chloride is an ionic compound, which means that it consists of positively charged calcium ions and negatively charged chloride ions.
During electrolysis, an electric current is passed through a molten or dissolved compound, causing the ions to move towards the electrodes. At the negative electrode (cathode), the positively charged calcium ions gain electrons and are reduced to form calcium atoms. At the positive electrode (anode), the negatively charged chloride ions lose electrons and are oxidized to form chlorine gas.
The overall reaction during the electrolysis of calcium chloride is:
CaCl2(l) → Ca(l) + Cl2(g)
This process is used to extract calcium on an industrial scale, as it is an efficient method for producing large quantities of calcium.