Final answer:
Electrolytic reduction challenges in extracting sodium from sodium chloride in the past due to hydrogen ion reduction, complex Downs cell process requiring high temperatures, and competition between ions in mixed salt systems.
Explanation:
The difficulties in electrolytic reduction of sodium from sodium chloride in earlier days stemmed from the challenges in isolating sodium due to hydrogen ions being more easily reduced than sodium ions, leading to hydrogen gas formation instead of sodium metal at the cathode.
As shown in the Downs cell electrolysis process, high temperatures were required to melt NaCl for isolating sodium metal, making the process complex and limiting the direct extraction of sodium from aqueous solutions of sodium salts.
In mixed salt systems like when NaCl and CaCl₂ are electrolyzed, competition between different electrolytic reactions arises, highlighting the complexities involved in the selective reduction of specific ions.
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