Electrolysis of baking soda solution?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Artlav
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electrolysis
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The electrolysis of a baking soda (NaHCO3) solution using carbon electrodes produces hydrogen gas at the cathode and an unidentified gas at the anode. The anode gas does not exhibit the characteristics of common gases like CO2 or O2, indicating a complex reaction. Additionally, the electrolysis process may lead to the gradual formation of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the solution, influenced by factors such as concentration, voltage, electrode properties, and CO2 partial pressure. This system's behavior is not straightforward and varies based on specific conditions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrolysis principles
  • Knowledge of chemical reactions involving sodium bicarbonate
  • Familiarity with gas identification techniques
  • Basic chemistry of acids and bases, particularly sodium hydroxide formation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the electrolysis of sodium bicarbonate solutions
  • Investigate the properties and reactions of carbon electrodes in electrolysis
  • Learn about the formation and detection of gases produced during electrolysis
  • Explore the effects of varying voltage and concentration on electrolysis outcomes
USEFUL FOR

Chemists, electrochemists, and hobbyists interested in electrolysis experiments and the behavior of bicarbonate solutions in electrochemical processes.

Artlav
Messages
161
Reaction score
1
What is being produced in electrolysis of water with baking soda (NaHCO3) dissolved in it, and carbon electrodes?
Seems to be an extremely simple question, but every place i google up have a different answer.

In practice, there is hydrogen on the cathode - it burns - but on the anode i get some unknown gas.
It does not smell of anything - neither the itchy smell of CO2, nor fresh smell of oxygen, and i can't seem to get any reaction from a lit match.

So, what is happening in there?
Second question - what is happening in the water?
One place i read that it would slowly turn into NaOH solution - would that actually happen?
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
CO2/O2 mixture perhaps? When oxygen is produced (which is almost for sure the main reaction) it can oxidize carbon electrodes, plus, one the products of the electrolysis are H+ - depending on the concentrations they can acidify solution in the vicinity of the electrode enough to decompose the carbonate.

But I am just guessing. Note that there is probably no one answer to the question - what is really happening can depend on the concentration, applied voltage, properties of the electrode surfaces, mixing and partial pressure of CO2 in the air above the solution. By no means this is a simple system.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
16
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
12K