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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: cvn on April 26, 2006, 05:52:35 AM

Title: electrolysis of sodium chloride - dilution, concentration, aqueous..
Post by: cvn on April 26, 2006, 05:52:35 AM

Hi, here is a question..

Is there a difference between:
a) dilute sodium chloride           OR
b) aqueous sodium chloride ? 

If so, what will be the different products form on the anode?

--
on the previous post, the answer is chlorine gas formed, but dilute sodium chloride and aqueous sodium chloride will give different products, is this correct?

Title: Re: electrolysis of sodium chloride - dilution, concentration, aqueous..
Post by: AWK on April 26, 2006, 06:01:21 AM

Both are water solutions of NaCl !

Title: Re: electrolysis of sodium chloride - dilution, concentration, aqueous..
Post by: cvn on April 26, 2006, 06:35:54 AM

ohh, so they are both the same word, and they are actually referring to one kinda solution.

but i've got a problem here:

my chemistry teacher told me that "dilute NaCl" will give a different product from "aqueous NaCl", in terms of strength or something..

so is the above true?

Title: Re: electrolysis of sodium chloride - dilution, concentration, aqueous..
Post by: Borek on April 26, 2006, 06:56:52 AM

Products may depend on the concentrations of chlorides, so in a way your teacher is right, but at the same time he is not right - as "dilute" is a very fuzzy concept.

When you compare two solutions you can say one is more diluted then other - say 10% and 2% - the second is diluted. But when you compare 2% and 0.1% solutions 0.1% is diluted - so this time 2% is concentrated. You see the problem? To be able to tell what will be electrolysis products you need to know exact concentrations.