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Making sodium?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:08 pm
by Counterstriker
So I hear you can make sodium by melting it and then running current through it. (sodium is extremely explosive when added to water). Can someone help me out here and give me some ideas an how to run a current through it?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:10 pm
by crazyfreak0075
You say melting "it" what is it.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:17 pm
by Counterstriker
My bad, You make it by melting salt.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:19 pm
by crazyfreak0075
LOL yeah i guess you could "melt" salt then run a current as i so have read. Good luck with the chlorine gas. I dont recommend any thing but chlorine gas is heavy and will stay in the bottom of a cup in small amounts. I guess if you were careful..................naw its highly poisonous dont do it.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:23 pm
by A-98
yup, melt and run a current thru it, but dont breath. Translation: highly inadvisable.

ide say your best bet is talk to BC, he might know where you can aquire some

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:25 pm
by Counterstriker
My question is what can I use to run the current through it?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:33 pm
by crazyfreak0075
Car battery from what i read. But listen the melting point of NaCl is 1473.8 Fahrenheit. Good luck getting that high. Torch maybe??? Something alot safer would be NaOH get it from chemical shops, chemistry teacher. Melting point is a lot lower 604.4 Fahrenheit. Also you can make say a 4 molar solution and try electrolysis, i haven't checked to see if it would work but the anode would be covered in sodium, of course it would be in water so never mind.

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:01 am
by GalFisk
Details and success reports about electrolysing melted NaOH here: http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/view ... p?tid=2103

Beware that hot melted lye is very corrosive and will eat your skin and blind you. Take appropriate safety precautions.

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:19 pm
by Counterstriker
Ok cool, Can I store It in gasoline? Cooking oil?

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:38 pm
by iPaintball
You can safely store it in mineral oil. You can also purchase small quantities of elmental Na and K at Unitednuclear.com

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:56 pm
by WOW!!
Can I ask what you are useing it for?

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:31 pm
by keep_it_real
You're also supposed to be able to melt ashes with a torch and then do electrolysis when it's molten. Ashes are mostly made of KCO3 or Potassium Carbonate. This will separate the potassium and you can get it out somehow. Potassium is more explosive than sodium.