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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: MrP. on November 22, 2016, 12:35:19 PM

Title: Electrolysis of NaNO3
Post by: MrP. on November 22, 2016, 12:35:19 PM
Can someone help me with electrolysis of NaNO3(l) and NaNO3(aq)
Title: Re: Electrolysis of NaNO3
Post by: thetada on November 22, 2016, 12:52:01 PM
What help do you need? Are you actually doing the electrolysis or is it for a homework question / project? We do offer help but the forum rules state that you need to show your own efforts to solve any problems.
Title: Re: Electrolysis of NaNO3
Post by: MrP. on November 22, 2016, 12:57:30 PM
I'm practising for test and this was the question from the book that we didn't do ao we will have it in test probably

I don't understand the first one NaNO3 - Na+ + NO3- what to do with NO3- It's impossible to have NO3 that isn't ion
Title: Re: Electrolysis of NaNO3
Post by: thetada on November 22, 2016, 01:15:08 PM
It would really help if you included the question in a post.

Are you asking what would be the products if you performed electrolysis on molten NaNO3? (NaNO3(l))

If so, can you suggest what products you might get?
Title: Re: Electrolysis of NaNO3
Post by: MrP. on November 22, 2016, 01:21:59 PM
I did this one like in school but I don't understand the other one when it's molten
Task says just write electrolysis of molten NaNO3 and when it is in water
Btw I'm from Croatia so sorry for bad English

NaNO3(aq) -> Na+ + NO3-
H2O -> H+ + OH-

2H2O + 2e- -> H2 + 2OH-  /*2
2H2O - 4e- -> O2 + 4H+

2H2O -> O2 + 2H2
Title: Re: Electrolysis of NaNO3
Post by: AWK on November 22, 2016, 02:33:55 PM
In water you may expect additional reaction - reduction of NO3- to NO2- by hydrogen.
For electrolysis of molten salt you have a very narrow temperature range (about 50 C - between 320 and 380). Above 380 C nitrate completely decompose to nitrite. During electrolysis additional reaction will reduce nitrate to nitrite. At the second electrode you will get two gases.