I am looking to synthesize sulfuric acid via the electrolysis of CuSO4, but it looks like the only viable anode for this is platinum- which obviously
isn't cheap. Have you guys found any cheap sources?bob800 - 21-4-2011 at 15:10
Carbon\graphite rods work (which you can easily extract from old dry cells), although they will quickly erode. However, the C particles don't really
interfere and you can filter them out.
Here's a video using C as anode and Cu as cathode:
[Edited on 21-4-2011 by bob800]sternman318 - 21-4-2011 at 17:00
I've got a pencil cookin' away! haha. I had seen that video ( it actually sparked this 'quest'), but had spent my time looking for platinum electrodes
or other anodes, instead of just messing with an easily found one. Should I make some sulfuric acid, and dehydrate some sugar, could I not then make
an electrode out of my carbon worm? Are there carbon electrodes that resist decay? bob800 - 21-4-2011 at 17:36
could I not then make an electrode out of my carbon worm? Are there carbon electrodes that resist decay?
I think that would erode even more, but you could try it! There are carbon
electrodes that resist decay, but they are not cheap! It's called "glassy
carbon", and it's quite useful for these types of experiments.
Here's a thread on using glassy carbon in chlorate cells:
Personally, I would just use a carbon rod from a AA dry cell. I did this before and it worked fine after I filtered the carbon particles.
[Edited on 22-4-2011 by bob800]#maverick# - 21-4-2011 at 17:39
i have a glossy type carbon electrode that i got for free if you wanna try it, if i can find it lol
[Edited on 22-4-2011 by #maverick#]redox - 21-4-2011 at 17:48
On ebay (last time I checked) there is a dealer selling lengths of platinum wire for $1.75 per inch. You would only need a few inches for your
electrolysis. Check him out- his name is "mfg_answers."rollercoaster158 - 22-4-2012 at 15:10
It may be $1.75 an inch, but the wire's .003 inches in diameter! dann2 - 22-4-2012 at 17:25
A flea's dildo?barley81 - 22-4-2012 at 17:26
Too big for that.j_sum1 - 18-12-2014 at 03:21
Has anyone had any success with Pt plated jewellery as an anode?WGTR - 18-12-2014 at 05:08
No, I haven't tried. But since I'm thinking about it, this is where I bought mine last time:
The key is to get them from the "secondary market". They have physical blemishes, etc. It's like junk silver, except it's platinum, and probably the
closest to spot price that people can just buy. Right now they're around $50.
For the larger sizes (5g) it is probably cheaper to get them directly from Apmex:
[Edited on 12-18-2014 by WGTR]j_sum1 - 18-12-2014 at 06:22
I ask because I came across a Pt plated bracelet that was made of large (ugly) coin-sized discs. It was only five bucks.
The danger of course is that it would only take one blemish in the presumably thin surface (or a drill hole) to expose the substrate and then any
electrolysis is effectively contaminated and the anode destroyed in short order. Still, it might be worth a try.
And, yes, I realise it is a four year old thread too. The question has come up periodically but I couldn't find a thread where someone had actually
tried and reported success. If there are no responses, I might have to be the person to attempt it.
My main application is electrolysis of CuSO4 to make sulfuric acid. The carbon electrodes I have tried erode too quickly. My attempt at making a
graphite substrate lead dioxide anode had a really poor surface. I must try that again some time though. I burned out a MMO anode -- I mistakenly
thought it was up to the task. I was hoping not to have to shell out the dollars for Pt on titanium mesh.
I do have gold leaf however. I could lay it over a glass rod and try that. Or is Au incompatible with sulfuric acid electrolysis?jock88 - 18-12-2014 at 06:27
Has anyone tried magnetiteTGT - 18-12-2014 at 21:16
Anyone know if the inside platters of a hard drive are platinum plated, and if so can they be used or is the platinum plating too thin?
TGTfroot - 19-12-2014 at 01:52
Drop one in HCl and see where on the platter the substrate metal reacts.
There are carbon
electrodes that resist decay, but they are not cheap!
It's called "glassy
carbon", and it's quite useful for these types of experiments.