Why is my sodium chlorate glowing? Answered

I was making some sodium chlorate using https://www.instructables.com/id/EGXGY5PF23Z375E/, but instead of using some 9v, i put a bridge rectifier on to my AC power (i live in south Africa so 240v) and the I put what i hope was DC into the salt water, which began to glow and made a noise. Why was it glowing and is there any danger to let it run for 2 hours?

Discussions

lemonie

Best Answer 10 years ago

I think you're putting too much current through it, Do you see any boiling water? L

BOOM5601

Answer 10 years ago

Also, I remember someone putting mains through a pickle, and it glowing, and they said it was because of the sodium in the salt. Could this be the cause?

lemonie

Answer 10 years ago

The sodium ions conduct electricity, getting hot and glowing is a feature of the electrical energy being converted to heat (it's a Power=I² R relationship)

L

Berkin

Answer 10 years ago

I thought chlorine ions conducted electricity, too...

lemonie

Answer 10 years ago

Yes chloride too.

L

V-Man737

Answer 10 years ago

I LOVE the glowing pickle!!!!!!1

BOOM5601

Answer 10 years ago

I wasn't looking into the bowl, I was scrambling to turn off the AC.

lemonie

Answer 10 years ago

You've put too much current through this, find a 12/9/6/4.5V supply. L

seandogue

10 years ago

What you're seeing is a chemical effect called chemiluminesence. It is caused by heating the bleach, in this case, as Lemonie points out heating by injecting too much current into the solution.