Magius
Harmless
Posts: 20
Registered: 9-6-2004
Location: Green Bay
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Mood: Constrianed
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Chromium Salt from electrolysis?
So...
Today I set up a simple electrolysis experiment. I stuck 2 NiChrome wires into dilute H2SO4 and left it running at 50V*10Amps. The solution was in a
plastic container with holes drilled in the side for the anode and cathode, sealed by hot glue. I come back 3 hours later to find that the
electrolysis has stopped becuase the anode snapped off(erroded?) at its entrance point, and the whole solution is a nice yellow shade. I know chromium
forms a yellow colored Ion in solutions(IIRC Chrome 3+), but I thought that NiChrome was an inert electrode.
Also, the anode appeared to be undamaged, while the area where the cathode gave of the most hydrogen had turned a whitish shade, not the original
color at all. It appears that this is where the choromium was stripped off, but I thought that the annode would go into solution if anything.
Whats going on?
Wait for it...
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BromicAcid
International Hazard
Posts: 3246
Registered: 13-7-2003
Location: Wisconsin
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How thick were your electrodes? At that kind of voltage and with those amps and with such a good electrolyte the power didn't have much time to
follow the metal further into solution, oxidation of your anode took place almost at the surface interface from the sound of it and continued till it
ate its way though your anode and fell into another piece.
I really wouldn't have done this in a plastic container. I use a similar method to solvate nickel metal and it gets very hot. The whitish shade
could be imbedded sulfate that precipitated from the cooled solution. Or oxidized and re-reduced metal salts.
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neutrino
International Hazard
Posts: 1583
Registered: 20-8-2004
Location: USA
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It sounds to me like he used a thin heating wire.
Be careful sround that solution. Nickel salts are very toxic.
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MadHatter
International Hazard
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Maine
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Mood: Enjoying retirement
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Wattage
You came back after 3 hours ? It may have happened in minutes considering you're using
wire and pushing 500 watts !
From opening of NCIS New Orleans - It goes a BOOM ! BOOM ! BOOM ! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !
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