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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: lordofdarkness on May 16, 2005, 05:11:00 AM

Title: Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: lordofdarkness on May 16, 2005, 05:11:00 AM

Hello
Can Electroysis be done of Potassium sulfate(K2SO4)

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: xiankai on May 16, 2005, 07:34:33 AM

electrolysis works as long the compound contains ionic bonds.

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: lordofdarkness on May 17, 2005, 04:15:23 AM

Would it give potassium at the anodes
but what about the cathcodes?

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: Donaldson Tan on May 17, 2005, 05:05:16 AM

electrolysis of molten potassium sulfate will yield potassium at the cathode. sulphate anion will break down to SO3 and O2 at the anode.

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: Borek on May 17, 2005, 05:08:41 AM

We are talking about molted salt or water solution?

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: lordofdarkness on May 17, 2005, 06:42:34 AM

Molten Potassium Sulfate(k2So4)

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: Borek on May 17, 2005, 07:40:59 AM

So I can't anything valuable to Geodomes post  :-\

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: jdurg on May 17, 2005, 10:38:48 AM

Remember, when trying to isolate ANY alkali or heavy alkaline-earth metal from its salt, IT ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE DONE IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION.  Sorry about the shouting, but so many peole come here asking how to get sodium metal from electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride, or potassium metal from potassium chloride, etc. etc.  It just boggles my mind since they obviously want the Na or K to react it with water, but they fail to realize that electrolysis of a salt solution means 'in water'.    :P  ;D

The big problem with the electrolysis of molten potassium sulfate is keeping the salt molten, as well as dealing with all of the sulfur oxide fumes.  Inhaling those will lead to a lot of lung problems right then and there, as well as later in life.  There's also the problem with your potassium reacting with the oxygen and water vapor in the air.  With the K being formed in a liquid state, it's reaction rate increases tremendously and can result in little explosions sending the molten metal and molten salt all over the place.  So an inert atmosphere surrounding the newly forming potassium is a must.

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: Themannisfullysic on May 18, 2005, 05:18:04 AM

i think u might need a down cell???

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: jdurg on May 18, 2005, 11:31:23 PM

Quote from: Themannisfullysic on May 18, 2005, 05:18:04 AM

i think u might need a down cell???

Yup.

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: Donaldson Tan on May 19, 2005, 12:32:34 AM

although mercury cathode allows the discharge of aqueous sodium cations during electrolysis, the sodium formed will be absorbed by the mercury to form a sodium mercury amalgam. you have to process the amalgam to extract sodium from it.

Title: Re:Electroysis of Potassum Sulfate
Post by: lordofdarkness on May 19, 2005, 04:07:35 AM

Have you people have designs to make a home made down cell?