Explain the following
Carbon cannot reduce the oxides of Na or Mg.

Explanation

To explain why carbon cannot reduce the oxides of sodium (Na) or magnesium (Mg), we can break down the reasoning into several steps:

### Step 1: Understanding Reduction
Reduction is a chemical process where a substance gains electrons or decreases its oxidation state. In the context of metal oxides, it often involves a more reactive substance (like carbon) being able to displace a less reactive metal from its oxide.

### Step 2: Affinity for Oxygen
Sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) have a higher affinity for oxygen compared to carbon. This means that they are more likely to bond with oxygen and form stable oxides.

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