# Titanium is a metal used to make replacement hip joints and jet engine parts. It is extracted from titanium(IV) oxide by first converting the oxide to titanium(IV) chloride, then reacting the chloride with sodium or magnesium. Explain why titanium cannot be extracted from titanium(IV) oxide by heating with carbon, and why sodium or magnesium can be used instead.

> WJEC GCSE Chemistry (Wales) — 2.3 Metals and their extraction · Explain · 4 marks

> Titanium(IV) oxide cannot be reduced by carbon because titanium is more reactive than carbon. Industrial extraction uses sodium or magnesium to displace titanium from titanium(IV) chloride.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Carbon can only reduce (displace) metals that are less reactive than carbon
2. Titanium is more reactive than carbon, so carbon cannot displace/reduce titanium from its oxide
3. Sodium (or magnesium) is more reactive than titanium
4. Sodium or magnesium can therefore displace/reduce titanium from its compound

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