f5b4a58a-molten-sodium-chloride-can-be-reduced-to-sodium-metal-by-passing-an-ele

Question

Molten sodium chloride can be reduced to sodium metal by passing an electric current through the molten salt to split it into its elements. Illustrated below is a simple diagram of the cell. Show the balanced equations for the anode, cathode, and overall cell reactions.

Accepted Answer

Anode: 2 $$Cl^{−} (l$$)  → Cl_{2} (g) + 2 $$e^{−}$$ Cathode: $$Na^{+} (l$$) + $$e^{−}$$→ Na (l) Overall: 2 NaCl (l) → 2 Na (l) + Cl_{2} (g)

Answer

Anode: $$Na^{+} (l$$) + $$e^{−}$$→ Na (l) Cathode: 2 $$Cl^{−} (l$$)  → Cl_{2} (g) + 2 $$e^{−}$$ Overall: 2 NaCl (l) → 2 Na (l) + Cl_{2} (g)

Answer

Anode: $$Na^{+} (l$$) + $$e^{−}$$→ Na (l) Cathode: $$Cl^{−} (l$$)  → Cl (g) +  $$e^{−}$$ Overall:  NaCl (l) → Na (l) + Cl (g)

Answer

Anode: $$Cl^{−} (l$$) → Cl (g) + $$e^{−}$$ Cathode: $$Na^{+} (l$$) + $$e^{−}$$→ Na (l) Overall:  NaCl (l) →  Na (l) + Cl (g)