Which metals can be obtained through electrolysis of molten compounds?

The correct answer involves metals that are highly reactive and need to be extracted through the electrolysis of their molten salts rather than through more traditional methods like reduction with carbon. In the case of potassium and lithium, they are both alkali metals situated in Group 1 of the periodic table. These metals are very reactive and do not occur freely in nature; instead, they exist as compounds. To extract these metals, it is necessary to perform electrolysis on their molten salts, which allows for the separation of the metal from the non-metal ions in their compounds.

When electrolysis is applied to the molten salts of potassium and lithium, an electric current passes through the molten compound, causing the positively charged metal ions to migrate towards the negative electrode, where they are reduced to form the pure metal. This method is particularly suited for the alkali metals because of their high reactivity and low melting points, making it feasible to perform electrolysis on their molten state.

The other listed options consist of metals that can be obtained through different methods. For example, metals like zinc and lead can typically be extracted using reduction processes rather than requiring electrolysis of molten compounds. Gold and silver are noble metals that are often found in their elemental forms and can be obtained through simpler mining