Sciencemadness Discussion Board

HCl from electrolysis of salt solution

darkflame89 - 11-3-2004 at 06:06

During the electrolysis of salt solution, hydrogen gas and chlorine gas is produced. Can HCl then be somehow be combined to form HCl gas then dissolved in water to form hydrochloric acid?

Saerynide - 11-3-2004 at 07:11

Yep.

I collected the Cl2 in a glass container half filled with water by connecting a tube at the anode. Then I took the container and stuck it in the fridge for a few hours. Then I shook it up really well and stuck it back in for a while.

When you shake it, you'll notice that lots of bubbles come out of the water, unlike shaking regular water. That means its working.

When you take it out of the fridge, open the container OUTSIDE. DO NOT do it inside like I did. I got my self HCl and Cl2 poisoned for over a week doing that.

T_FLeX - 11-3-2004 at 14:09

I don't think it yields too much hydrochloric acid, but rather hypochlorous acid. You could electrolyze the salt solution, collect your chlorine, and do the same with plane water and get some hydrogen. Mix the chlorine with your hydrogen :D Then dissolve the resulting hydrogen chloride gas into water. Let me know how it turns out.

Blind Angel - 11-3-2004 at 14:38

I made a thread for HCl from H<sub>2</sub> and Cl<sub>2</sub> there:
HCl from H2 ans Cl2

mysteriusbhoice - 20-11-2018 at 09:54

I am working on this very project now using a modified membrane cell with an electrolyte of NaCl added catalyst of sulfate ions and some ferric chloride
now from nurdrage video you can produce HCl from H2SO4 + NaCl
and I have successfully produced H2SO4 from Na2SO4 using a membrane cell
but knowing its reaction with NaCl i could use the same setup to produce HCl in solution hopefully.
The cathode part of the cell has its electrolyte replaced every 12 hours when it becomes saturated with NaOH and replaced with fresh NaCl.
this should hopefully produce HCl but it will be contaminated with some H2SO4 and some FeCl3 but perhaps using CuCl3 will be better because you can easily plate that out.
the only way to remove the H2SO4 and other contaminants is by distillation.