Section E: Answer the case-based question given below.
37. c. We cannot use carbon to obtain sodium from sodium oxide. Why? State the reactions taking place at cathode and anode during electrolytic reduction of sodium chloride.
c. Sodium from sodium oxide and electrolytic reduction of sodium chloride:
i. Using carbon to obtain sodium
We cannot use carbon to obtain sodium from sodium oxide because sodium is more reactive than carbon. Sodium has a higher affinity for oxygen than carbon, so carbon cannot sodium oxide (\(Na_2O\)) to sodium.
ii. Reactions at cathode and anode during electrolytic reduction of sodium chloride:
During the electrolytic reduction of sodium chloride (\(NaCl\)), the following reactions take place:
At the cathode (reduction):
\(Na^+\) + \(e^−\) → \(Na\)
At the anode (oxidation):
\(2Cl^−\) → \(Cl_2\) + \(2e^−\)
The overall reaction for the electrolytic of sodium chloride is: \(2NaCl\) → \(2Na\) + \(Cl_2\).
This process is carried out in a molten state (Downs cell) to ensure that the ions are free to move and participate in the .