How to Make Metallic Sodium

by radhoo

40K1912

Intro: How to Make Metallic Sodium

Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin: natrium) in the periodic table and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. The free metal does not occur in nature, but instead must be prepared from its compounds; it was first isolated by Humphry Davy in 1807 by the electrolysis of sodium hydroxide.

Given its extraordinary chemical reactivity, there are multiple applications for this substance. Preparing it via electrolysis is the easiest way to go, however we need to use a molten sodium hydroxide electrolyte, as the resulting sodium would react with the water in an aqueous solution. Not that hard to do, as NaOH melts at 318 °C . The temperature is reasonably low to allow the separation of the resulting sodium without spontaneous ignition in air, but extra caution must be exercised as the chemicals involved are highly caustic, especially at high temperatures.




More details and photos here: http://www.pocketmagic.net/2013/04/how-to-make-metallic-sodium/

STEP 1:

Step 1: prepare a ceramic container. There are various choices here, from ceramic light bulb sockets, to light spot ceramic connectors.

STEP 2:

Step 2: insert two steel screws are electrodes.

STEP 3:

Step 3: add some sodium hydroxide, melt it superficially using a butane torch, and connect the electrodes to a high current voltage supply

11 Comments

SrujanP1 8 years ago

Why to Use DC current not AC Current.

samuelx3 3 years ago

ac means alternating current, and dc means direct currant. in other words, ac = both sides are ocilating charges, turning from negitive to positive super fast. but DC current has one side negitive and one side positive, and that doesn't change unless you switch the wires manually. if you're wondering "but it turns into sodium and water! and the water just evaporates. " that could be true but then the sodium isn't in one nice place and the sodium would have a hard time deciding wether to go to an electrode or repel from an electrode and many other problems may arise

radhoo 8 years ago

Because the idea is to separate the ions according to their electric charge.

Rubens?? 7 years ago

will a 9v battery work?

samuelx3 3 years ago

no, even if it did, it would react with the air or turn back into sodium hydroxide. you need at least 110 volts (maybe a bit lower its more about current not voltage, even though that is importaint).

radhoo 6 years ago

Did you make it?

namindu 8 years ago

Is it must be a ceramic. Can I use a metal like aluminium containor

radhoo 8 years ago

aluminium no, as NaOH will react with it if there is any water. Instead you can use a steel container.

namindu 8 years ago

thank you very much.