hodges
National Hazard
Posts: 525
Registered: 17-12-2003
Location: Midwest
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Carbon Anode Electrolysis Reaction?
When electrolyzing an aqueus solution at room temperature, the carbon anode is eroded. What reaction is occurring here, given that carbon is inert at
room temperature? It can't be just the mechanical action of the bubbles because the cathode does not erode significantly.
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BromicAcid
International Hazard
Posts: 3246
Registered: 13-7-2003
Location: Wisconsin
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Mood: Rock n' Roll
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What is the source of your graphite, crappy battery graphite has a tendency to flake. Could be scattered anodidic oxidation. Possibly internally
between the graphite sheets. Remember there are air bubbles in the graphite that it supposedly 'glides' on. The structure of graphite
might be so that an air bubble can form easily between sheets from the action of electrolysis on water and pry the sheets apart, sheering them off.
But being that it is anodidic oxidation it must have something to do with oxygen unless you've got something else at your anode.
Edit: I don't think the graphite could be easily oxidized to CO2 but possibly one of the solid sub oxides of graphite which could disrupt the
bonding of the sheets causing the flaking.
[Edited on 6/22/2004 by BromicAcid]
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