*

*Brine is a concentrated solution of Sodium

Chloride

*Obtained from Sea Water or by dissolving

rock salt in water.

*Used to produce *Chlorine *Hydrogen *Sodium Hydroxide *All of which have important uses.

*What is Brine.

FACT FILE:
Sodium Hydroxide is used to make soap an is also used in the extraction of Aluminium Chlorine is used in water purification and in making solvents, plastic and bleaches.

Hydrogen is used in making margarine and Ammonia. And is also used as a fuel

Electrolysis of Brine:
The ions present in an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (the electrolyte) are; Na+ Cl H+ (water) OH- (water) The hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions are formed because water is slightly ionised. H2O H+ + OH-

 Sodium ions The negative ions, and hydrogen chloride(from the ions and hydroxide,are water) get attracted towards attracted to thethe negative positively charged anode cathode . It is much there are far, far easier for a more chloride hydrogen ion ions arriving at to pick up an the anode than electron, than hydroxide ions. a Sodium ion Therefore: The major 2H+ (aq) +at H2 (g) reaction e the anode is therefore: 2Cl--2e- Cl2

Diaphragm Cell
The electrolyte is aqueous Sodium Chloride (brine) The anodes are titanium The cathodes are steel The porous diaphragm separating the cathode and anode compartments is made from a mixture of asbestos and polymers.
Water and ions can pass through the diaphragm

During electrolysis, sodium and hydrogen ions move to the cathode and chloride and hydroxide ions move to the anode.

Notice that there is a higher level of liquid on the anode side; That makes sure that the flow of liquid is always from left to right - preventing any of the sodium hydroxide solution formed finding its way back to where chlorine is being produced. Production of Chlorine: Chlorine is produced at the titanium anode according to the equation: 2Cl- - 2e- Cl2

It is contaminated with some oxygen because of the reaction:

4OH- - 4e- 2H20 (l) + O2 (g) The chlorine is purified by liquifying it under pressure. The oxygen stays as a gas when it is compressed at ordinary temperatures.

Production of the hydrogen

The hydrogen is produced at the steel cathode:

2H+ (aq) + e- H2 (g)

Production of the Sodium Hydroxide

A dilute solution of sodium hydroxide solution is also produced at the cathode. It is highly contaminated with unchanged sodium chloride solution. The sodium hydroxide solution leaving the cell is concentrated by evaporation. During this process, most of the sodium chloride crystallises out as solid salt. The salt can be separated, dissolved in water, and passed through the cell again. Even after concentration, the sodium hydroxide will still contain a small percentage of sodium chloride.

The end