Name: Alloys and Their Properties
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 8 min 35 s
Description: Learn the basics about alloys and their properties as a part of metallic bonding within the properties of matter topic. Let us deep-dive into this topic.

Question

Explain the electrolytic process of molten sodium chloride.

Accepted Answer

Sodium metal is extracted from the molten sodium chloride by the process of electrolytic reduction.

When molten sodium chloride is by passing electric current, it decomposes into sodium $({Na}^{+})$ ions and chloride $({Cl}^{-})$ ions. The sodium ions move towards cathode (negative electrode) while chloride ions move towards anode (positive electrode).

These sodium ions gain electron at cathode and get reduced to sodium atoms and chloride ions lose electron at anode and get oxidized to chlorine atoms.

Figure showing electrolysis of molten $NaCl$

The reaction involved is as follows:
$\underset{Molten sodium chloride}{2 NaCl (aq)} \overset{Electric current}{\to} \underset{Sodium}{2 Na (s)} + \underset{Chlorine}{{Cl}_{2} (g)}$

The reaction taking place at cathode:
$\underset{}{{Na}^{+}} + \underset{from cathode}{e^{-}} \overset{reduction}{\to} Na (s)$

The reaction taking place at anode:
${Cl}^{-} \overset{oxidation}{\to} Cl + e^{-} Cl (g) + Cl (g) \to {Cl}_{2} (g)$
Thus, sodium metal is obtained at cathode while chlorine gas is liberated at anode.

Explain the electrolytic process of molten sodium chloride.

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