Question

List the important products of the Chlor-alkali process. Write one important use of each?

Answer 1

Chlor-alkali process:

• The chloralkali process is known as an industrial process used for the electrolysis of sodium chloride solutions.
• In this process when electricity is passed through the solution of Sodium chloride also called as brine, it decomposes to form Sodium hydroxide, Chlorine gas ($\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_2$), and Hydrogen gas (${\mathrm{H}}_2$).
• Here, the electrolyte is the Brine solution, and the Chlorine gas is formed at the anode while the Hydrogen gas is formed at the cathode and hence, the reaction can be written as:
  $\underset{(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{chloride})}{2\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}\underset{(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hydroxide})}{\stackrel{\mathrm{Electricity}}{\to }2\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Chlorine}\right)}{\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Hydrogen}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

Important products of the Chlor-alkali process:

• When the concentrated Sodium chloride undergoes electrolysis, then three products are formed.
• The product formed are: Sodium hydroxide ($\mathrm{NaOH}$), Chlorine gas ($\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_2$), and Hydrogen gas (${\mathrm{H}}_2$).
• Hence, the list of the important products of the Chlor-alkali process are: Sodium hydroxide, Chlorine gas ($\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_2$), and Hydrogen gas (${\mathrm{H}}_2$).

Uses of each product:

• Sodium hydroxide- It is used in the manufacturing of paper.
• Chlorine - It is used to make plastics $\left(\mathrm{PVC}\right)$, pesticides chlorofluorocarbon $\left(\mathrm{CFCs}\right)$, chloroform carbon tetrachloride, Paints e.t.c.
• Hydrogen- It is used in the hydrogenation of oils to obtain vegetable ghee.

Hence, the uses of each product have been mentioned above.