Redox Reactions: Electrolytic cells 2: chemical production

Part of a comprehensive 9-part series exploring the chemistry of both galvanic and electrolytic cells, and their many important applications.

Explores the use of electrolytic cells to produce materials widely used in industry.
The chemistry and basic operation of the following processes are explored: aluminium smelting; sodium production (using the Downs cell); chlorine and NaOH production (using the membrane cell). Using Faraday’s laws of electrolysis, calculations for both aluminium and sodium production are demonstrated.

Chapters

• electroplating vs chemical production
• aluminium smelting
• calculations for aluminium production
• Downs cell
• calculations for sodium production
• chlorine and NaOH production: the membrane cell
• summary

Chemistry Consultant: Warren Moseley (Co-author, Heinnemann Chemistry 2; former member VCAA Chemistry Standing C’tee).