ELECTROLYSIS OF MOLTEN ELECTROLYTE - PUNJAB-CURRICULUM-AND-TEXTBOOK-BOARD-PCTB / 10TH-CLASS / CHEMISTRY / HISTORY-OF-CHEMISTRY-10TH-CLASS-NBF-2024 / ELECTROCHEMISTRY / ELECTROLYSIS-OF-MOLTEN-ELECTROLYTE

4.2.1 Electrolysis of molten electrolyte

(i) Electrolysis of Molten Sodium chloride

On a large scale, sodium metal is produced by the electrolysis of fused sodium chloride. The electrolytic cell used in the process is called a Down's Cell. Down's Cell uses an iron cathode and carbon anode. During the electrolysis, the sodium ions are reduced at the cathode to liquid sodium metal. At the anode, the chloride ions are oxidized to chlorine gas.

At anode

🖼️ Figure Image Pending Upload

Figure 4.2: Down's Cell

Diagram image pending upload by Admin.

At cathode

2 {N a}^{+} (1) + 2 e^{-} \overset{{C l}_{2} (g)}{\to} 2 {N a}_{(1)} (r e d u c t i o n h a l f - r e a c t i o n)

4.2.1 Electrolysis of molten electrolyte

4.2.1 Electrolysis of molten electrolyte

(i) Electrolysis of Molten Sodium chloride

(ii) Electrolysis of molten lead(II) chloride using platinum or graphite electrodes