How to Make Sodium Hydroxide

Intro: How to Make Sodium Hydroxide

These are the thing you need to make sodium hydroxide
any type of container 
2 carbon electrodes (you can get these from zinc-carbon batteries)
alligator clips
water
salt (non iodized salt)
power source (i used a 9v battery) 

This is my 2nd instructable so dont expect it to be good

STEP 1:

First you need to get water and put it in a container then mix salt (sodium chloride)  in it (make sure the salt isn't iodized)

STEP 2:

Next put the 2 carbon rods in the water and then apply power 
(do this for about 7 hours then let the rest evaperate)

STEP 3:

you are electrolyzing the salt water solution and the sodium chloride is breaking up into sodium and chlorine (warning this is giving of chlorine gas)

He is what is going on
2NaCl(aq) + 2H2O(l) => H2(g) + Cl2(g) + 2NaOH(aq)

Comments

[dwarfinger]

I think to get sodium hydroxide, the poles of the batteries need to be separated by a semipermeable membrane. For example, use a flower pot that is unglazed and with the hole stopped up in the bottom.
In one of the half cells you will get sodium hydroxide, contaminated with a bit of leftover sodium chloride.

[transistor2]

what can i use it for

[nabzim]

You can use it to make traditional german pretzels, or soap, or (assuming you've obtained nearly 100% pure NaOH) you can perform an acid-base titration to (almost perectly) calculate the exact number of the molecules of a certain acid in almost any solution you'd like to know (using an indicator such as phenolphthalein)(and a graduated burette)(and a very very accurate scale, maybe accurate to like 6 to 7 significant figures)(basicly just need access to your college's chemistry lab)

[sray-von]

Wait---so a pretzel and soap?
I get the soap because that is why I'm here today looking to make wood soap. But a pretzel ?

[ilike2pokypoky]

you can use it to dissolve glass and lots of other stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmktRTHL1NA

[sray-von]

Would desolving glass relate to etching glass?

[nabzim]

Sorry, but your not going to dissolve glass with just sodium hydroxide.

[fragleshnagle]

It will dissolve glass if the sodium hydroxide is heated to its melting point.... And eventually destroy tue container you are hearing it in

[Radarmax13]

to make soup?

[zork the destroyer]

To make soap

[transistor2]

cool

[justin.gort.92]

you can also usee it to neutrolize HCl thet hets formt when Cl hit water (H2O).
it will then turn Cl back into NaCl and water

[jgregersen1]

You can use it to make soap.

[samuelx3]

sodium hydroxide in solution quickly reacts with co2 in the air to form sodium carbonate, so it's likely that you have sodium carbonate. also, the white stuff at the top is most likely perchloriate, sodium chloride, or just plain old sodium carbonate

[upandit96]

Can we write ammonia as a H3N

[samuelx3]

i guess, though it would be more understandable to write it as NH3

[m.usman.m.1903]

It is acceptable to write it that way, however the most common and worldwide used formula is NH3

[jagtarsingh]

Smells like sodium hydroxide but is it possible with nacl i think making sodium hydroxide is only possible by using sodium carbonate

[m.usman.m.1903]

Nope, sodium hydroxide does form using this method. However it dissolves in water rather than forming any precipitate.

[samuelx3]

Are you sure that it isn't the bubbling motion of the hydrogen/chlorine splatering salt onto the top? i don't really know but it might be a posibility