Chemistry (including Biochemistry)/Seperating NaCl

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Expert: - 1/25/2008


Question
Hey,
I am a high school science student and i was wondering how it would be
possible to make sodium. I know you have to liquify NaCl but then what?
Thanks

Answer
Sodium is made by taking a mixture of NaCl (40%) and calcium chloride, CaCl2 (60%) and melting at about 580C.  This has to be done in inert atmosphere and no water can be present.

cathode: Na+(l) + e- Na (l)

anode: Cl-(l) 1/2Cl2 (g) + e-


If you do just the NaCl, you have to go up to 800C to melt the NaCl.

Of cvourse, neither of these can be done in a school lab and the equipment is very specialized.

http://books.google.com/books?id=0XmiTX6e_9YC&pg=PA531&lpg=PA531&dq=%22sodium+ch...

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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PhD, MS, BS in Chemistry

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