Question

Carbon cannot reduce the oxides of $Na$ and $Mg$. Explain.

Answer 1

Carbon is an element with atomic number $6$ and atomic mass $12$ . It is the seventeenth most abundant element found on earth. It is present in both free state and combined state. There are two types of allotropes of carbon namely diamond and graphite.

Complete step by step answer:
Carbon is less reactive metal compared to sodium and magnesium.
It is a strong oxidizing agent.
Thus, it cannot reduce strong metal oxides.
Carbon can only react with metals that are less reactive.

Metals such as sodium and magnesium show higher affinity towards oxygen as compared to carbon because they are highly reactive metals.
Even the oxides of sodium and magnesium are highly reactive.
As oxygen is highly reactive it reacts with sodium and magnesium.
That is why carbon cannot reduce the oxides of sodium and magnesium.

Additional information:
Since carbon is a non metal it can reduce zinc easily as zinc is less reactive as compared to carbon.
Carbon also has the highest sublimation point and it has no melting point at atmospheric pressure.
The ability of carbon to make long chains is known as catenation.
It can form multiple bonds.
Allotropes of carbon are graphite and diamond.
Graphite is soft and diamond is hard.

Note: According to the reactivity series, carbon is less reactive and can reduce zinc and iron easily to form metals. The reactivity series in the decreasing order $K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > C > Zn > Fe$ . In order to reduce sodium and magnesium in the presence of carbon, very high temperature is required and they will form carbides instead of oxides.