| Sodium Amalgam |
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Information AboutSodium Amalgam |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SODIUM AMALGAM | |
| reagents for organic chemistry | |
| alloys | |
| chemical substances | |
| intermetallics | |
| sodium | |
| amalgam | |
| mercury element | |
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It is mainly produced as a By-product of Chlorine manufacture in a Mercury Cell . In this cell, Brine (concentrated Sodium Chloride solution) is Electrolysed between a liquid mercury Cathode and a Titanium or Graphite Anode . Chlorine is formed at the anode, while sodium formed at the cathode dissolves into the mercury, making sodium amalgam. Normally this sodium amalgam is drawn off and reacted with water in a "decomposer cell" to produce Hydrogen gas, concentrated Sodium Hydroxide solution, and mercury to be recycled through the process. In principle, all the mercury should be completely recycled, but inevitably a small proportion goes missing. Because of concerns about this mercury escaping into the environment, the mercury cell process is generally being replaced by plants which use a less toxic cathode. Since its introduction in the 1880s by students of Robert Bunsen , Julius Tafel and Hans Goldschmidt , sodium amalgam has also been used in Organic Chemistry as a powerful Reducing Agent which is safer to handle than sodium itself. A sodium amalgam is used in the design of the High Pressure Sodium Lamp providing sodium to produce the proper color, and mercury to tailor the electrical characteristics of the lamp. |
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