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The extraction of potassium and sodium from their ores primarily involves electrolysis, particularly because both metals are highly reactive and cannot be easily extracted by traditional methods such as reduction with carbon. During electrolysis, a molten salt of the metal is subjected to an electric current, which prompts the positive ions to migrate towards the negative electrode where they gain electrons, resulting in the formation of the respective metals. This method allows for a high degree of purity and is effective for alkali metals like potassium and sodium due to their low electropositive character.

In contrast, other methods such as reduction with carbon are insufficient for these metals because they form stable oxides that require more energy for reduction than can be provided by carbon. Heating in air is also applicable to certain metals, but again, it does not suffice for reactive alkali metals, as they would simply oxidize rather than being reduced to their elemental forms. Simple evaporation does not serve to isolate metals but is rather a technique for separating solutions or concentrating them, which is irrelevant for extraction from ores.