Oxygen gas produced by a Solid element + sodium hydroxide solution?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of which solid elements at room temperature can produce oxygen gas when placed in a sodium hydroxide solution. It explores theoretical and chemical reactions involving solid elements and their interactions with sodium hydroxide.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that peroxides and superoxides may react with water to produce oxygen, although they note that these reactions do not specifically require an alkaline solution.
  • One participant asserts that there are no solid elements that will react with aqueous sodium hydroxide to produce oxygen.
  • A participant mentions potassium perchlorate and its reaction with water, but another points out that it is a compound, not a solid element.
  • It is proposed that strong oxidants are needed to produce oxygen from water, with fluorine being a gaseous oxidant and iodine being a solid that does not produce free oxygen in alkali solutions.
  • Some participants clarify that the question may be interpreted as asking about producing oxygen in a reaction with water, rather than from water itself.
  • There is a discussion about the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen, but it is reiterated that introducing a solid element to sodium hydroxide does not release oxygen.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the possibility of solid elements producing oxygen gas in sodium hydroxide solution, with some asserting it is not possible while others explore various conditions and reactions.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the definitions of reactions and the conditions under which oxygen might be produced, highlighting the complexity of the interactions involved.

BenDover
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
TL;DR
Solid element + sodium hydroxide solution = oxygen gas
Hello. I am wondering; which solid at room temperature elements produce oxygen gas when put into a solution of sodium hydroxide?

Thanks
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
BenDover said:
Summary:: Solid element + sodium hydroxide solution = oxygen gas

Hello. I am wondering; which solid at room temperature elements produce oxygen gas when put into a solution of sodium hydroxide?

Thanks
In general, oxidation relases energy (e.g. burning produces heat), and reduction requires energy (e.g. electrolysis of water produces hydrogen and oxygen).
 
In general peroxides and superoxides often react with water producing oxygen. Not that they specifically require alkaline solution (they do produce hydroxides while reacting though).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sysprog
There are no solid elements that will react with aqueous sodium hydroxide to produce oxygen.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sysprog
@chemisttree, doesn't potassium perchlorate plus water produce potassium hydroxide plus oxygen?
 
Potassium perchlorate is not an element. It is a compound.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sysprog
Oops, I didn't read carefully enough ##-## I'd have thought that fact would go without saying. :wink:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: chemisttree
In general, what you need to produce oxygen from water is oxidants.
There is one free element oxidant consistently strong enough to react with water to produce oxygen, but it is gaseous at STP: fluorine. Chlorine is close, but also gaseous.
Strongest oxidizing element which is solid at STP is iodine, but it does not produce free oxygen in alkali solutions: it produces iodides and iodates.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sysprog
snorkack said:
In general, what you need to produce oxygen from water is oxidants.
The way I read it question is not about "producing oxygen from water" but about "producing oxygen in a reaction with water". If so, anything that decomposes in the presence of water producing oxygen fits.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sysprog
  • #10
Borek said:
The way I read it question is not about "producing oxygen from water" but about "producing oxygen in a reaction with water". If so, anything that decomposes in the presence of water producing oxygen fits.
Yes, but the only element that can decompose to oxygen is, well, oxygen.
It does have a second reasonably metastable allotropic form (ozone), but this is also a gas at STP.
 
  • #11
snorkack said:
Yes, but the only element that can decompose to oxygen is, well, oxygen.
It does have a second reasonably metastable allotropic form (ozone), but this is also a gas at STP.
Water (with or without .1 M lye dissolved in it) can decompose into hydrogen and oxygen, but, as @chemisttree stated, oxygen is not released by introduction of a solid element to aqueous sodium hydroxide.
 
Last edited:
  • #12
There are no solid elements that will react with aqueous sodium hydroxide to produce oxygen.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sysprog

Similar threads

  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
43
Views
20K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K