Use of the Ellingham Diagram for Oxides

The most powerful reductants for the oxides shown in Fig. 17.9 are aluminum, magnesium, and calcium. Scrap aluminum can be used in the thermite reaction to reduce metal oxides, for example, Cr2 0s  

Much heat is generated, and the mixture becomes white-hot. Indeed, thermite reactions have been used to generate intense heat as well as the reduced metal for certain welding applications. Chromium, however, is usually made by coke reduction of chromite (FeCr204) in the electric furnace. The product is ferrochrome, an Fe-Cr alloy, but this is acceptable if, as is often the case, the intention is to make stainless steel. 

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