@Blogfast: I agree about NaOH from Na + H2O is silly. I had to try it for myself, though. Now that I've done it, I can put it behind me. Although I
did get some very CLEAN NaOH...
As for the oil situation - you should have seen the look on my face when I switched off the power supply and pulled that stem out after the bath
cooled some. My choices were motor oil, WD40, dirty kerosine (lamp oil), or chain oil. The exposed Na was burning so I grabbed the motor oil and
dunked the entire stem in it. Oddly enough (or not) the oil now smells strongly of NaOH and the Na has tarnished quite a bit so I'm going to look for
one of the other oils you mentioned before the next run.
@Fleaker: I'd be interested to share notes with you about your previous attempt if you could dig them up.
@All: Some of this shit -IS- borderline trolling. It defeats the purpose of sharing ideas and thoughts. Having doubts isn't trolling but if you're
going to doubt everything then why even follow the thread? Discount the thing and move on if you don't believe it or if it's child's play to you...
One other thing. What's the deal? Do people come on here and make fake claims about stuff? I've been lurking the forum for a while and none come to
mind.
I was trying to show that an amateur (like me) can extract a considerable amount of Na from plain old NaCl without going over 100 amps (less,
actually). If you don't want to believe it then move on! You're not obligated to believe and I'm not obligated to bend over backwards to prove it.
Right?
Simmer down people!!!
Tom |