Sciencemadness Discussion Board
Not logged in [Login ]
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
Author: Subject: NaOH from Magnesium hydroxide?
kyanite
Hazard to Self
**




Posts: 86
Registered: 30-6-2004
Location: is not important!
Member Is Offline

Mood: lactamic

[*] posted on 28-11-2004 at 08:15
NaOH from Magnesium hydroxide?


Quick question:

2NaCl + Mg(OH)2 ==> 2NaOH + MgCl2

because of electronegativity, right?




View user's profile View All Posts By User
BromicAcid
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 3227
Registered: 13-7-2003
Location: Wisconsin
Member Is Offline

Mood: Rock n' Roll

[*] posted on 28-11-2004 at 08:20


A major point to bring up here is that magnesium hydroxide is fairly insoluble, so any such reaction would be exceedingly slow. In addition if it did work then the magnesium chloride in solution would precipitate from the sodium hydroxide. Since there is no driving force toward you product side (the anions and cations have no loyalties, a solution of hydroxide and chloride end up going with whatever they end up with unless there is some driving force such as precipitation which in this case would favor the reactant side.) this reaction will not occur to any appreciable extent.

Edit: If you were not refering to this reaction in the aqueous phase then by heating magnesium hydroxide and sodium chloride together you would end up with magnesium oxide and sodium chloride unless your temperatures were incredibly hot.

[Edited on 11/28/2004 by BromicAcid]




Shamelessly plugging my attempts at writing fiction: http://www.robvincent.org
View user's profile Visit user's homepage View All Posts By User
kyanite
Hazard to Self
**




Posts: 86
Registered: 30-6-2004
Location: is not important!
Member Is Offline

Mood: lactamic

sad.gif posted on 28-11-2004 at 08:31


Hah, I knew there must be a catch.:(

So let me see if I've learned anything:
So even if I found a solvent that disolves magnesium hydroxide, it'll probably also disolve MgCl2, and thus theres no driving force...

By the way, I was infact wodering about the aqueous phase. The MSDS had said that hydroxide goes back to oxide with heat




View user's profile View All Posts By User

  Go To Top