untuned
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Carbon Electrode Source
Found a cheap solution for a carbon electrode; a motor brush.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-x-10-x-30mm-Electric-Dust-Collecto...
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Hexavalent
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Looking at the size, they don't seem that big.
Getting carbon electrodes from batteries is what I've always done, as I also get large quantities of MnO2 and zinc metal too.
"Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." Winston Churchill
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untuned
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I agree they are small. Batteries are a great source too. Probably better for a lot of things, plus you get the MnO2 and zinc.
The company has many different sizes, so I bet they have larger ones.
Might be good for a simple hoffman apparatus or similar demonstration experiment.
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elementcollector1
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I personally don't like the carbon electrodes from batteries; they release resin into any non-neutral aqueous environment (basic and acidic), turning
the solution an annoying yellow.
The MnO2 from batteries is terrifically impure with ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, and carbon in the form of sticky graphite.
The zinc is good, though.
The best source of a carbon electrode is a welding electrode. They're usually somewhere around $7, and they're HUGE.
Elements Collected:52/87
Latest Acquired: Cl
Next in Line: Nd
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Hexavalent
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The battery electrodes are suffice for most electrolysis needs, despite this problem.
The dioxide can be purified by water washes - it still won't be great but for a lot of lab work, especially where it's purity is not especially
important, such as, in this case, e.g. making chlorine, it will suffice.
"Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." Winston Churchill
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Dave Angel
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I've had a lot of success with 'carbon arc gouging rods' which may or may not be identical to the welding electrodes mentioned by our
elementcollector (my knowledge of welding is limited). These really can't be beaten for price, and lack of hassle of preparation,
plus they are built to take high current.
Those I have bought are nearly completely covered in a layer of copper, which readily peels away in a spiral all the way down the rod after being
nicked with a sharp knife. This also leaves one with a bonus source of scrap copper ribbon...
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smaerd
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Ebaying for "Carbon rod", "Carbon welding rod", and "Carbon Electrode" are all fruitful.
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hissingnoise
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Two sellers here!
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Dave Angel
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Watch out for any that look too light a grey for graphite; they look a bit like sparklers, and appear to commonly come in widths up to 3.25 mm. I
think they are flux coated metal rather than carbon from what research online I've done. Not got a hold of one yet so don't quote me, but the UK chain
store Machine Mart is an option to handle these things in person - my next shopping trip to confirm...
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m1tanker78
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Go to your local welding shop and look for gouging rods (as they're called here). I buy them by the box and will never look back at battery carbons.
Mine are copper coated as well but as Dave said, the copper coating can be removed mechanically (or chemically).
Tank
Chemical CURIOSITY KILLED THE CATalyst.
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