Explain giving one example, how highly reactive metals (which are high up in the reactivity series) are extracted.

Explanation

i.Highly reactive metals such as sodium, magnesium and calcium are obtained by electrolytic reduction.
ii. The metals are deposited at the cathode (negatively charged electrode), whereas chlorine gas is liberated at the anode (positively charged electrode).
E.g. For extraction of sodium metal, cathode and anode reactions are as follows : At cathode : `Na^+ + e^(-) to Na` (Reduction)
At anode: `2Cl^(-) to Cl_2 + 2e^(-)` (Oxidation)