Which method is commonly used to extract sodium from its compound?
Electrolytic reduction
Sodium is a highly reactive alkali metal that lies near the top of the reactivity series. Because it is so reactive, it cannot be extracted from its compounds by reduction with carbon or by simple heating: any sodium liberated would immediately react back with the surroundings. Reactive metals like sodium, potassium, calcium and aluminium are therefore obtained by electrolytic reduction of their molten compounds.
Industrially sodium is produced by the Downs process: molten sodium chloride (with a little calcium chloride to lower the melting point) is electrolysed. At the cathode sodium ions gain electrons to form sodium metal (Na+ + e− → Na), and chlorine gas is released at the anode. Distillation only separates mixtures, thermal decomposition does not produce free sodium, and heating with carbon does not reduce sodium salts.
Hence, the answer is Electrolytic reduction.
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