Table of Contents
What happens during the electrolysis of molten NaCl?
Electrolysis of Molten Sodium Chloride Electrolysis involves the movement of ions to the electrode. When melted at high temperature, sodium chloride separates into sodium and chloride ions, so that, electrolysis can take place to form sodium atom and chlorine gas.
What happens when NaCl melts?
When it melts, sodium chloride undergoes electrolysis, which involves conduction of electricity because of the movement and discharge of the ions. In the process, sodium and chlorine are produced. This is a chemical change rather than a physical process.
Does NaCl conduct in molten state?
In the solid state, ionic compounds such as sodium chloride have their ions fixed in position and therefore these ions cannot move so solid ionic compounds cannot conduct electricity. However in the molten state, ions in ionic compounds are free to flow and therefore molten sodium chloride can conduct electricity.
Can NaCl exist as gas?
No, in the gas phase sodium chloride exists as a monomer (the sodium chloride molecule) along with its dimer Na2Cl2. The dimer has a roughly rectangular shape and is quite floppy with chlorines located diagonally across from each other. The dimer makes up about 27\% of the mix. All of the bond lengths, etc.
Which two gases are produced during the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution?
When an electric current is passed through concentrated sodium chloride solution, hydrogen gas forms at the negative electrode , chlorine gas forms at the positive electrode, and a solution of sodium hydroxide also forms.
Which are the ions present in molten sodium chloride?
It contains sodium ions, Na+, and chloride ions, Cl−. When molten sodium chloride is electrolysed, sodium metal and chlorine gas are formed. Describe how the sodium ions and chloride ions in solid sodium chloride are converted into sodium and chlorine by electrolysis. 4.4.
Is sodium reactive or stable?
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin natrium) and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table. Its only stable isotope is 23Na.
Why does NaCl conduct electricity in molten state?
In an ionic compound, such as solid sodium chloride the free electrons are not present. Electrons are bound in bonds by strong electrostatic forces. So, sodium chloride does not conduct electricity in a solid-state. So, the reason for the conductivity of sodium chloride in the molten state is the presence of free ions.
Why is NaCl a good conductor of electricity in solution or in their molten state?
As the motility of individual atoms or molecules in liquid state is far greater than solid, the ions (Na+&Cl−) are free to move and therefore can act as charge carriers. Hence molten sodium chloride is a good conductor of electricity because of free ions.