Products of Concentrated Barium Chloride Electrolysis?

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An electrolysis experiment using a 1.6M Barium Chloride solution resulted in the electrolyte turning black, likely due to chlorine production at the anode, as indicated by the smell. The colorless nature of Ba(OH)2 raised questions about the black coloration, leading to speculation that graphite electrodes may have exfoliated under the applied voltage, creating a suspension of graphite in the solution. The experimenter noted that similar procedures with other chloride electrolytes did not yield the same black product, prompting inquiries about whether the presence of barium facilitated exfoliation. Suggestions included testing with non-graphite electrodes to see if the black product persists and examining the condition of the graphite electrodes post-reaction for signs of degradation or expansion. The experimenter plans to conduct another trial to further investigate the potential graphite exfoliation.
Miles123K
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Are there any products from the electrolysis that would have turned the electrolyte black?
I did an electrolysis experiment with 1.6M Barium Chloride solution and the electrolyte turned black after the electrolysis. I am fairly positive that Chlorine was produced at the anode from the smell. However, Ba(OH)2 is colorless. I used graphite electrodes for this experiment. Does anyone have any idea about what could have happened along the way?
 
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Graphite can exfoliate under moderate to high voltages. You probably have a suspension of graphite in water.
 
TeethWhitener said:
Graphite can exfoliate under moderate to high voltages. You probably have a suspension of graphite in water.
That makes a lot of sense! However, I also did the same procedure with other electrolytes. Also Chlorides. And those electrolytes didn't show the same thing. Does the presence of barium make the exfoliation easier or something? Thanks for your answer!
 
I dunno, maybe. One simple test would be to use electrodes not made of graphite to see if you still get a black product with the barium electrolyte.

it also wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the graphite electrodes after the reaction: are they expanded? Degraded looking?
 
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TeethWhitener said:
I dunno, maybe. One simple test would be to use electrodes not made of graphite to see if you still get a black product with the barium electrolyte.

it also wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the graphite electrodes after the reaction: are they expanded? Degraded looking?
Right. The electrodes didn't look any different but I will attempt another trial to check if it's actually graphite exfoliation.
 

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