Completing an electric circuit with salt water

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the feasibility of completing an electric circuit using salt water as an electrolyte while avoiding electrolysis and electrode corrosion. The referenced paper indicates that using alternating current (AC) with copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) electrodes can prevent electrolysis, allowing the solution to act primarily as a resistor, resulting in energy loss as heat. However, the conversation raises concerns about the effects of high power (kilowatts) and current density on the system, suggesting that at higher currents, electrolysis may occur, leading to corrosion and other chemical reactions.

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  • Understanding of AC current principles
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  • Familiarity with electrode materials, specifically copper and zinc
  • Basic concepts of current density and its implications in electrochemical systems
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  • Research the effects of AC current on electrolysis in saltwater solutions
  • Investigate the corrosion rates of copper and zinc electrodes in saline environments
  • Explore the relationship between current density and electrochemical reactions
  • Examine high-power applications of saltwater circuits and their implications
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Electronics enthusiasts, electrical engineers, and researchers interested in electrochemistry and the practical applications of saltwater circuits.

amrmohammed
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Howdy!

I would like to complete an electric circuit using salt water and two electrodes, however I don't want my electrodes to corrode or change the chemistry of the electrolyte (salt water), so I don't want electrolysis to take place. Is this possible?

I read in a published paper that electrolysis don't take place when using AC current and Cu or Zn as electrodes and in that case "the solution behaves much like resistance and the energy is wasted in heating of the solution." Does corrosion take place in this case? does any other chemical reaction take place?

The paper I referred to attached to the thread or from (http://goo.gl/hdzyBf )

Thank you,
 

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What voltages and/or currents?
 
Exactly .. in the paper they used low power (tens of Volts and mAmps) .. I want to investigate this on high power (kiloWatts)
Do you think it will be different?
 
amrmohammed said:
(kiloWatts)
Do you think it will be different?
Depending upon current density (i/Aelectrode), it could be spectacular.
 
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So for high alternating currents the solution won't behave as a resistor, electrolysis will take place and electrodes will corrode?
 

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