Question

Describe the extraction of Sodium by electrolytic method through chemical equations.

Answer 1

1. In the electrolytic reduction method, the metal is extracted by passing electricity through molten oxide, chloride or hydroxide of metal.
2. Sodium metal is extracted by passing the electricity through the molten Sodium chloride, it decomposes to form Sodium metal and Chlorine gas.
   $$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\stackrel{\mathrm{Electrolysis}}{\to }2\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Chloride}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Metal} \\ \left(\mathrm{Molten}\right) \end{gathered}$$
3. The formation of Sodium metal and Chlorine by the electrolysis of molten Sodium Chloride takes place at two electrodes.
4. The reaction is shown as follows:
   $\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\stackrel{\mathrm{Heat}}{\to }{\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$
5. At the cathode, reduction takes place, and Sodium metal is obtained.
   ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to \mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$
6. At the anode, oxidation takes place and Chlorine gas is obtained.
   $2{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}$
7. The overall reaction is mentioned as follows:

$$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{NaCl}\left(l\right)\stackrel{Electrolysis}{\to }2\mathrm{Na}\left(s\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(g\right) \\ \mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Chloride}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Metal} \\ \left(\mathrm{Molten}\right) \end{gathered}$$