[lordofdarkness]

Hello
Can Electroysis be done of Potassium sulfate(K2SO4)

[xiankai]

electrolysis works as long the compound contains ionic bonds.

[lordofdarkness]

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

[Donaldson Tan]

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

[Borek]

We are talking about molted salt or water solution?

[lordofdarkness]

Molten Potassium Sulfate(k2So4)

[Borek]

So I can't anything valuable to Geodomes post  

[jdurg]

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'.      

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.

[Themannisfullysic]

i think u might need a down cell???

[jdurg]

i think u might need a down cell???

Yup.

[Donaldson Tan]

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.

[lordofdarkness]

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