How is Bauxite purified by Serpeck's process?
WEBSolution. Verified by Toppr. Finely powdered bauxite (Al2O3) is heated with coke and N 2 to 2000 K. Alumina forms aluminium nitride and silica is reduced to Si which is volatile. The hydrolysis of aluminium nitride gives aluminium hydroxide which on heating gives pure alumina. Al2O3 ⋅2H 2O +N 2 +3C 2000K −−−−→ 2AlN +3CO ↑ +2H 2O.