Page 22 - index
P. 22

2. s-Block Elements                    eLearn.Punjab

                                               Animation 2.7 DOWN’S CELL
                                          Source and Credit: eLearn.Punjab

Sodium metal rises in a special compartment from which it is taken out at
intervals.
The cell produces dry chlorine and 99.9 percent pure sodium. The
process is carried out at 600°C and it has the following advantages.

(a) The metallic fog is not produced.
(b) Liquid sodium can easily be collected at 600°C.
(c) Material of the cell is not attacked by the products formed during the
electrolysis.
During the process the following reactions take place:

                     →NaCl  Na+ +Cl-

At cathode           →Na+ +e-  Na
At anode
                     →Cl- 1/2Cl2 +1e-

                            22
   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27