Which of the following metals are extracted by electrolytic reduction?

Options

A. Fe
B. Cu
C. Ag
D. Al

Answer

To determine which metals among Fe (Iron), Cu (Copper), Ag (Silver), and Al (Aluminium) are extracted by electrolytic reduction, we can analyze each metal based on the principles of extraction methods in metallurgy.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Electrolytic Reduction**:
- Electrolytic reduction is a method used to extract metals from their ores by using electrical energy. It is particularly effective for metals that are more reactive and cannot be reduced by carbon or other reducing agents.

2. **Analyzing Each Metal**:
- **Iron (Fe)**: Iron is typically extracted from its ores (like hematite) using the blast furnace method, which involves reduction with carbon. Therefore, it is not extracted by electrolytic reduction.
- **Copper (Cu)**: Copper can be extracted from its ores using both smelting and electrolytic methods. However, in industrial processes, it is primarily extracted through smelting followed by electrolytic refining. Thus, while it can be refined electrolytically, it is not primarily extracted by this method.
- **Silver (Ag)**: Silver is often extracted from ores using processes like cyanidation or smelting. It can also be refined electrolytically, but similar to copper, it is not primarily extracted by electrolytic reduction.
- **Aluminium (Al)**: Aluminium is extracted from its ore, bauxite, using the Hall-Héroult process, which is a form of electrolytic reduction. In this process, aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite and then reduced to aluminium metal at the cathode.

3. **Conclusion**:
- Among the metals listed, **Aluminium (Al)** is the only metal that is extracted primarily through electrolytic reduction.

### Final Answer:
**Aluminium (Al)** is extracted by electrolytic reduction.