Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Electrolytic cell?

Funkerman23 - 12-11-2012 at 21:45

After seeing ytmachx's video and my own experimenting I am curious: what is your go-to apparatus for electrolytic or hard to clean preparations? On his page I see the 3 liter reaction vessel& flanged top( still can't find a source for that piece glass but that's another matter)and assuming your electrodes fit though the joint a multineck RBF can be used for a fair bit but what seems to be the common default set up? as always I thank you for you time, opinions and any comments.

[Edited on 13-11-2012 by Funkerman23]

smaerd - 13-11-2012 at 13:00

I typically use beakers but I haven't worked with more intricate electrochemical reactions. It's really hard to find legitimate electrochemical supplies. On e-bay there were some genuine salt-bridges but they were gone very fast. What I wouldn't give for a real H-Cell or some non-improvised membranes(nafion, ceramic, etc). There is specialized glass-ware for cells but its a rare find through my usual out-lets and usually very spendy.

Funkerman23 - 14-11-2012 at 09:39

...in Hindsight this was one of my 'dumb' threads, pardon that if you will.But you are right smaerd. No need to spend hundreds when a beaker or two suffices. cheaper and easier all around, thanks!

[Edited on 14-11-2012 by Funkerman23]

tetrahedron - 14-11-2012 at 10:35

nah, IMO electrolysis cell design is an intricate subject, there's no one-size-fits-all, it heavily depends on your goal.

elementcollector1 - 14-11-2012 at 11:06

In my opinion, beaker cells are good for making NaOH, NaClO3, etc. For electroplating, stuff gets complicated (electrode distance, cell concentration, size, shape, etc.)

Funkerman23 - 14-11-2012 at 18:32

Quote: Originally posted by elementcollector1  
In my opinion, beaker cells are good for making NaOH, NaClO3, etc. For electroplating, stuff gets complicated (electrode distance, cell concentration, size, shape, etc.)
thankfully this is for preparative work.Hydroxides and chlorites for the most part. Although why I didn't put that in the OP I don't know..

elementcollector1 - 15-11-2012 at 10:01

Chlorite or chlorate? There is an important difference between the two.
It's nice to see someone else preparing hydroxides, though. I thought I was one of the few members here who didn't want sodium perchlorate the second they got some platinum wire.

Funkerman23 - 15-11-2012 at 13:05

Quote: Originally posted by elementcollector1  
Chlorite or chlorate? There is an important difference between the two.
It's nice to see someone else preparing hydroxides, though. I thought I was one of the few members here who didn't want sodium perchlorate the second they got some platinum wire.
Chlorites later on but Hydroxides are the main goal. but given this is for a soap maker ( and I could use the chlorine) I'm looking at a fair bit of work.I was unsure as I don't have a reaction vessel to work with. I'm still trying to find one if truth be told but a 3 liter vessel is hard to come by. 'oddly' enough if chlorates/perchlorates where desired I'd have piles of literature to work from.*sigh* Sin sells I suppose. SO far as the Power supplies go I have that covered.

[Edited on 15-11-2012 by Funkerman23]

hissingnoise - 15-11-2012 at 13:17

Quote:
Chlorites later on but Hydroxides are the main goal.

Chlorites are prepared by reduction of chlorate!


Funkerman23 - 15-11-2012 at 13:59

Quote: Originally posted by hissingnoise  
Quote:
Chlorites later on but Hydroxides are the main goal.

Chlorites are prepared by reduction of chlorate!

True. from NaClO3 to NaClO2. But that isn't high on the list at the moment. Usefull no doubt but the request was Sodium hydroxide for home made soap. I should have worded mypost better.

[Edited on 15-11-2012 by Funkerman23]

m1tanker78 - 15-11-2012 at 16:31

Almost any container that won't react with the electrolyte. My 'go-to' containers range from pickle jars to 20+ gallon aquarium. When I've needed to collect or simply vent the gases produced, my 'go-to' apparatus is a pickle jar (with lid) and a red rubber pad which I get from the plumbing section of my LHS. These pads can be cut out with a punch (for smaller bores) and scissors around the diameter of the jar opening. It also serves to insulate the electrodes from the metallic lid. They also work very well between clamps and flasks or other glassware. Oh and I use cutouts from these pads in my thermometer adapters and [...] OK, I'm getting off track but you get the point..

I've never tried this myself but I imagine you could even rig up a bridge between 2 jars using some inert, absorbent material inside of a glass U-tube; maintaining the apparatus airtight. Haven't messed with membranes yet.. :(

Tank

elementcollector1 - 15-11-2012 at 16:35

Unfortunately, there's not many materials short of Nafion that are inert to sodium hydroxide and dissolved chlorine, hypochlorous and hydrochloric acid and still allow ion transfer.
I believe someone suggested flowerpots a while ago (a small one inside a big one), but I have no idea if that would work or not. If it transferred ions, I'm sure it would work beautifully.

m1tanker78 - 15-11-2012 at 17:01

EC: That's what I was referring to - clay or some material that can be packed into the U-tube. Granted, current flow would be very, very slow. The flower pots don't selectively pass ions. They simply act as a porous barrier so that some current can pass but not too much mixing of products.

If a flower pot could be doped.... Who knows.

Tank

hissingnoise - 16-11-2012 at 02:56

Quote:
Usefull no doubt but the request was Sodium hydroxide for home made soap.

Why not just buy the hydroxide?