How is pure sodium metal made from common salt?
Quick Answer
It is made by electrolysis of molten sodium chloride, not by simple chemistry in water. Sodium metal is so reactive that water-based methods do not work for making it directly.
The Full Story
Sodium metal is produced industrially by electrolyzing molten sodium chloride, commonly known as salt. In the Downs cell, invented in the 1920s, electricity drives sodium ions to gain electrons and form liquid sodium at the cathode. Chloride ions lose electrons at the anode, producing chlorine gas. The process requires high temperatures because sodium chloride must be melted so the ions can move freely. This method is still important because sodium metal is used in chemical synthesis and other industries.
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