Why is molten sodium chloride rather than solid sodium chloride used as the electrolyte?

Solid-state does not allow the movement of ions and unsuitable for electrolysis. 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.

Why different products are obtained from electrolysis of molten NaCl and electrolysis of a dilute aqueous solution of NaCl?

Why is electrolysis of dilute NaCl different from concentrated NaCl? – Quora. During the electrolysis of dilute NaCl solution, Na+, Cl- and water are present. When concentrated NaCl solution undergoes electrolysis, sodium hydroxide and hydrogen are produced at the cathode while chlorine is produced at the anode.

How does the product of the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride differ from that of brine?

In the electrolysis of dilute sodium chloride, water is ‘splt’ into its elements rather than NaCl being split into it’s elements. If a concentrated solution of sodium chloride (called brine) is electrolysed, chloride ions are in high enough concentration to be oxidised at the anode in preference to water.

What is the difference between sodium chlorine and sodium chloride?

1). The compound composed of these ions exhibits properties entirely different from the properties of the elements sodium and chlorine. Chlorine is poisonous, but sodium chloride is essential to life; sodium atoms react vigorously with water, but sodium chloride simply dissolves in water.

What is electrolysis of molten salts?

New substances form when a molten or dissolved ionic compound conducts electricity. For example, lead bromide can be used to produce bromine and lead using the following process: place solid lead(II) bromide in a crucible and heat over a Bunsen burner until it melts.

Why is molten salt used in electrolysis?

Deduce the products of the electrolysis of a molten salt: Electrolysis of a molten salt produces the elements from the salt. So, the electrolysis of WCl4 produces W and Cl2. Metal ions receive electrons at the negative electrode, and the non-metals lose them at the positive electrode.

Why in electrolysis molten liquid is used instead of solid?

The reason that an electrolyte has to be molten or in solution is that the current is carried through the electrolyte by the movement of ions – not electrons. In a solid, those ions can’t move.

What are the products from the electrolysis of NaCl?

Electrolysis of Sodium Chloride

• Sodium metal and chlorine gas can be obtained with the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride.
• Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride yields hydrogen and chlorine, with aqueous sodium hydroxide remaining in solution.

How does the electrolysis of sodium chloride produce chlorine?

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. You might have expected sodium metal to be deposited at the negative electrode.

Why is chlorine produced in the electrolysis of brine?

The electrolysis of brine separates the salt water solution through a porous membrane resulting in the negative anode drawing the positively charged chlorine ions to it while the positive cathode collects the negatively charged hydrogen ions found in the water.

What is the charge on a sodium ion what about the chlorine ion?

+1
Since it has 1 more proton than electrons, sodium has a charge of +1, making it a positive ion. Chlorine gains an electron, leaving it with 17 protons and 18 electrons. Since it has 1 more electron than protons, chlorine has a charge of −1, making it a negative ion.

What does sodium and chlorine make?

Chlorine (Cl) is a halogen; it is a highly reactive element that readily gains an electron to fill its outermost shell. Sodium and chlorine, two highly reactive elements, combine to form the stable compound sodium chloride (ordinary table salt).

What is the product of electrolysis of sodium chloride?

Key Points Sodium metal and chlorine gas can be obtained with the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride. Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride yields hydrogen and chlorine, with aqueous sodium hydroxide remaining in solution.

What is the difference between aqueous sodium chloride and molten sodium chloride?

Key Points. Sodium metal and chlorine gas can be obtained with the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride. Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride yields hydrogen and chlorine, with aqueous sodium hydroxide remaining in solution. The reason for the difference is that the reduction of Na + (E° = –2.7 v) is energetically more difficult than…

How can sodium metal and chlorine gas be obtained from sodium chloride?

Sodium metal and chlorine gas can be obtained with the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride. Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride yields hydrogen and chlorine, with aqueous sodium hydroxide remaining in solution.

What happens when sodium chloride is melted at high temperature?

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. Read More In Detail: Electrolysis NaCl → Na + (l) + Cl – (l) At cathode: reduction of 2Na + (l) + e – → Na (l)