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Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of applying an electric current across two different metals immersed in a solution of molten potassium chlorate?
How are oxygen gas and hydrogen gas separated in the chloroalcali process?
What happens to the sodium hydroxide produced during the chloroalcali process?
Why does the chlorine produced in the process remain gaseous?
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What happens to the electrons during the electrolysis process in the chloroalcali process?
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How are both sodium hydroxide and chlorine removed from the cells in the chloroalcali process?
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What is the primary raw material used in the chloroalkali process to produce sodium hydroxide?
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During the electrolysis process in sodium hydroxide production, what happens to the sodium atoms extracted from water molecules?
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What is the byproduct generated during the chloroalkali process that exits the system along with hydrogen gas?
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In the chloroalkali process, what role do oxidized steel anodes play during electrolysis?
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Which component of the chloroalkali process is responsible for creating sodium hydroxide in the final product stream?
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What is the key advantage of using the chloroalkali process for sodium hydroxide production?
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Study Notes
Chloro Alkaline Process: An Overview of Sodium Hydroxide Production, Electrolysis, and Chlorine Manufacture
The chloroalkali process is a widely used industry method for producing sodium hydroxide and chlorine from their respective raw materials—salt and caustic soda. This electrochemical conversion process has been refined over time and is now a standard approach due to its efficiency and simplicity. Here we delve into how this method works and its key components: sodium hydroxide production, the electrolysis process, and chlorine manufacture.
Sodium Hydroxide Production
In the first stage of the chloroalcali process, brine made up of dissolved saltwater is pumped through porous diaphragms into a cell where it contacts mercury cathodes and oxidized steel anodes. When electricity passes between these two elements, sodium atoms are extracted from the water molecules containing them, leaving behind pure oxygen gas. As the reaction progresses, the sodium combines with any remaining free electrons present until all available electrons have combined to form elemental sodium. At this point, the sodium metal reacts with more of the water molecule's oxygen atom to produce hydrogen gas which, when released from the reaction chamber, exits the system along with other gases generated during the process. This entire cycle creates sodium hydroxide in the final product stream.
Electrolysis Process
The second step of the process involves the actual electrolysis itself, similar to what occurs in a battery where a chemical reaction generates energy. In the case of the chloroalcali process, an electric current is applied across two different kinds of metals immersed in a solution of molten potassium chlorate. This causes the creation of oxygen gas at one terminal pole and hydrogen gas at another. Both oxygen gas and hydrogen gas escape from the cell into separate containers while the electrons move back and forth between the metal poles to complete the circuit.
Chlorine Manufacturing
Finally, once sufficient quantities of both sodium hydroxide and chlorine have accumulated, they can be removed from the cells by opening valves connecting those parts of the equipment specifically designed for this purpose. Once separated out, the liquid sodium hydroxide can be cooled down rapidly so that it becomes solid crystallized sodium hydroxide, ready to transport via tanker trucks directly to various industrial plants requiring this material as part of their manufacturing processes. Meanwhile, the chlorine produced remains gaseous since it does not need further processing after being created within the cell. It too can exit freely through vents connected to the outside world, eventually dispersing into air wherever it happens to flow through.
Thus, the chloroalcali process efficiently produces large amounts of both sodium hydroxide and chlorine chemicals using relatively simple, accessible materials like salt and water under electrical power conditions. Its widespread application reflects both its effectiveness and feasibility in many fields of commerce and industry.
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Description
Learn about the chloroalkali process, a key industrial method for producing sodium hydroxide and chlorine from salt and water. Explore the stages of sodium hydroxide production, electrolysis process, and chlorine manufacturing within this efficient and widely used process.
