Question

What are the three products of 'Chlor-alkali process? Write one commercially or industrially important material that can be prepared from each of these products.

Answer 1

Chlor-alkali process:

1. It is used for manufacturing the sodium hydroxide (NaOH), chlorine gas $\left({\mathrm{Cl}}_2\right)$, and hydrogen gas$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$
2. When we pass electricity through an aqueous solution of sodium chloride ($\mathrm{NaCl}$, called brine) it decomposes to form sodium hydroxide($\mathrm{NaOH}$).

Reaction involved:

$2\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\stackrel{\mathrm{Electrolysis}}{\to }2\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

Three products of the ‘Chlor-alkali process’;

1. Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
2. Chlorine gas $\left({\mathrm{Cl}}_2\right)$
3. Hydrogen gas $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$

Commercial and Industrial uses:
1. $\mathrm{NaOH}$- used for making detergent and soaps, paper making, and artificial fibers.
2. ${\mathrm{Cl}}_2$- used for making Bleaching powder, Pesticides, and CFCs.
3. ${\mathrm{H}}_2$- used for making Ammonia, and Fuels.