Explain giving one example, how highly reactive metals (which are high up in the reactivity series) are extracted.

The highly reactive metals are extracted by the electrolytic reduction of their molten chlorides or oxides. Example: Sodium metal is extracted by the electrolytic reduction of molten sodium chloride. When electric current is passed through molten sodium chloride, it decomposes to form sodium metal and chlorine gas.

2NaCl(l) → 2Na(s) + Cl2(g)