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GCSE Combined Science · key term
A substance in which aluminium oxide is dissolved during aluminium extraction, forming an electrolyte with a lower melting point than pure aluminium oxide.
Used by AQA
Specification 5.4.3.3 · Paper 3
Revise: Using Electrolysis to Extract MetalsAluminium is manufactured by electrolysing a molten mixture of aluminium oxide and cryolite. This mixture is the electrolyte: the material containing the mobile ions that carry charge through the liquid.
Explain the use of cryolite as a chain: the mixture has a lower melting point, so less energy is needed for heating and the cost is reduced.
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