Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Simple question ~

Rhodanide - 13-10-2015 at 10:15

I have a simple question for those of you who have more knowledge in this than I do:
I have a few Tungsten electrodes, and have been wanting to try doing electrolysis for sodium chlorate. The problem is that all electrodes I've tried degrade. I've heard that tungsten is nicely resistant to corrosion, of course Platinum is better, but I can't afford that.

A simple sentence or yes/no would suffice. But, that's up to you. :P

Thanks! :)

woelen - 13-10-2015 at 10:21

Tungsten cannot be used as anode. It will quickly corrode. You will get tungstic acid (H2WO4) in solution or as a flocculent precipitate. An affordable electrode for producing chlorate is titanium, covered with MMO.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1...

j_sum1 - 13-10-2015 at 10:32

This sounds like a better route to WO3 than digesting in hydrogen peroxide for days.

careysub - 13-10-2015 at 12:25

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1  
This sounds like a better route to WO3 than digesting in hydrogen peroxide for days.


You in a hurry?

Usually I have work to do (actual employment, household/family duties), and as long as it can sit unattended - a few days for a reaction is no problem.

j_sum1 - 13-10-2015 at 12:48

H2O2 around here clocks in at a measly 6% and costs money. I have some electricity sitting around here somewhere that I could use if needed.

(Actually, I already have some WO3 courtesy of a fellow SM member. And I am keeping my tungsten for the element collection. But if anyone actually needed to do this, it seems like a sensible option.)

Rhodanide - 13-10-2015 at 14:32

Quote: Originally posted by woelen  
Tungsten cannot be used as anode. It will quickly corrode. You will get tungstic acid (H2WO4) in solution or as a flocculent precipitate. An affordable electrode for producing chlorate is titanium, covered with MMO.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1...


Thanks!

Rhodanide - 13-10-2015 at 14:36

Quote: Originally posted by woelen  
Tungsten cannot be used as anode. It will quickly corrode. You will get tungstic acid (H2WO4) in solution or as a flocculent precipitate. An affordable electrode for producing chlorate is titanium, covered with MMO.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1...


Or would pbo2 be better?