Two layers of non-mixing liquid and electrodes

[pranj5]

I am siting an imaginary experiment here. In a glass vessel, there are two types of non-mixing liquids say water and kerosene. It can be easily understood that the kerosene will form a layer above water in such a case. Now, some common salt or other electrolyte has been added to the water and two electrodes (one positive and one negative) has been immersed in the kerosene. Do the ions will be attracted towards the electrodes and go from water to the kerosene?

 

[Borek]

Depends on the applied voltage, but as long as we are talking about few volts I doubt there will be any measurable effect.

 

[pranj5]

Consider the voltage to be sufficient.

 

[snorkack]

Kerosene is an insulator. Will it undergo dielectric breakdown?

If dielectric breakdown (arc or spark discharge) goes through air or a dielectric immiscible liquid to surface of saltwater, do ions travel from water to the surface? Do they exit surface of water into air of the arc?

If corona discharge arrives at flat surface of water, will ions exit water surface into air?

 

[pranj5]

Good questions! Though kerosene is just an example here and that can be replaced by other suitable liquids. Whatsoever, the main point is whether the ions will travel from water to secondary liquid or not. And if yes, whether that could bring other phenomenons into action or not.