Why Reduction of CaO not possible with Carbon ?

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Calcium Oxide (CaO)**:
- Calcium oxide, commonly known as quicklime, is a highly reactive compound. It is formed from the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and is known for its strong basic properties.

2. **Reaction with Carbon**:
- When calcium oxide (CaO) is treated with carbon (C), instead of undergoing reduction to form calcium (Ca), it reacts to form calcium carbide (CaC₂) and carbon monoxide (CO).

3. **Chemical Equation**:
- The reaction can be represented by the following balanced chemical equation:
\[ 2 \text{CaO} + 4 \text{C} \rightarrow \text{CaC}_2 + 2 \text{CO} \]
- In this reaction, carbon does not reduce calcium oxide to calcium; instead, it forms a different compound, calcium carbide.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Since the reaction leads to the formation of calcium carbide (CaC₂) instead of elemental calcium (Ca), it indicates that the reduction of CaO by carbon is not feasible. The reactivity of CaO favors the formation of CaC₂ over the reduction to elemental calcium.