Abstract

In this example we will use the most common of the salts, sodium chloride. Solid sodium chloride, in normal condition, does not conduct electricity, because there are no electrons that are free to move. However, molten sodium chloride does. According to actual interpretation, when sodium chloride and heated and melted, the sodium ions and the chloride ions can separate from one another somewhat, and they are free to move throughout the liquid. The paper analyzes in detail the phenomena of molten NaCl electrolysis in an electrolytic cell. The cell is driven from a battery or some other source of direct current. The battery acts as an electron pump, pushing electrons into one electrode and pulling them from the other.