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Question

What is Chloro-Alkali process?


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Solution

Chloro-Alkali process:

  • When electricity is passed through an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) (called brine), then it decomposes its constituent elements which then react with water to give sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
  • The process is known as the Chloro-Alkali process due to the formation of “chloro” for chlorine and “alkali” for sodium hydroxide as a product.
  • The chloro-alkali process is an industrial process for the electrolysis of sodium chloride solutions.

Chemical Reaction:

  • For the electrolysis of brine, a basic membrane cell is used.
  • Chloride Cl- is converted to chlorine Cl2 at the anode.
  • In contrast to anions like hydroxide OH- and chloride, the ion-selective membrane does not permit the free passage of the counterion Na+.
  • Hydroxide and hydrogen H2 gas are formed by the reduction of water at the cathode.
  • The cathode and anode reaction is as follows:

Anode:2Cl-aqCl2g+2e-Cathode:2H+aq+2e-H2g

  • In the end, sodium hydroxide and chlorine gas are produced by the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of sodium chloride.
  • The corresponding chemical reaction is as follows:

2NaCl(aq)+2H2O(l)Electricity2NaOH(aq)+Cl2(g)+H2(g)

Diagram of Chloro-Alkali process


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