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Author: Subject: Pure Sodium Metal
MttLsp
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[*] posted on 9-8-2010 at 17:43
Pure Sodium Metal


I'm interested in isolating pure Sodium metal from Sodium compounds and this is what I have so far:

1) Li + NaCl --> LiCl + Na
2) 2Mg + 2NaOH --> 2MgO + H2 + 2Na
3) Electrolysis of molten NaCl

Are there any other methods besides these?
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Lambda-Eyde
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[*] posted on 9-8-2010 at 18:20


Electrolysis of molten NaOH:

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=9797
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Sciocrat
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[*] posted on 10-8-2010 at 06:28



Reaction of NaOH with aluminium or magnesium (better).

I have also read that a reaction of molten Pb and NaCl could give Na, but unfortunately except for it being mentioned, I haven't found any other useful information about this method.


[Edited on 10-8-2010 by Sciocrat]
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MttLsp
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[*] posted on 11-8-2010 at 13:31


Thanks both of you were very helpful :)
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Vanilla47
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[*] posted on 27-9-2010 at 20:59
Castner Sodium Process


Hi !
Castner Sodium Process must be suitable !
A Free PDF for Download !
http://vanilla47.com/PDFs/ClandestineChemistry/Amphetamine/T...




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Rogeryermaw
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[*] posted on 27-9-2010 at 21:36


there are about a hundred other threads on sodium production here.

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=14491

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=9797

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=14457#...

try these out first




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[*] posted on 28-9-2010 at 07:23


Why does 1.) work?
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metalresearcher
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[*] posted on 28-9-2010 at 09:48


Quote: Originally posted by Vanilla47  
Hi !
A Free PDF for Download !
http://vanilla47.com/PDFs/ClandestineChemistry/Amphetamine/T...


Really nice section of a book of 1953 ! I read about women were ladling off molten sodium from NaOH bath and a backyard cast Ni anode !

[Edited on 2010-9-28 by metalresearcher]
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OctanitroC
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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 10:35


Quote: Originally posted by Mossydie  
Why does 1.) work?

Sorry to resurrect a dead thread, but I've been looking for resources about Castner cell construction and ran across several Na production threads, including this one. 1.) works because it's carried out at a temperature where Na is gaseous but Li isn't, so the equilibrium is driven towards the products by continuous evaporation of Na out of the reaction mixture. Needless to say, it's not the best suited for home use, as the temperatures necessary are quite high and suitable apparatus for condensing gaseous Na are necessary.




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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 11:42


Quote: Originally posted by MttLsp  
2) 2Mg + 2NaOH --> 2MgO + H2 + 2Na


Creates a mess of mixed Na and MgO from which Na is very difficult to extricate. Just forget about that one altogether.

@Octa:

With a BP of 883 C for Na (1330 C for Li) complete separation of Na and Li would be difficult, unless strong vacuum is applied. It's not really something hobbyists can achieve easily, this combination of high temp + high vac.

[Edited on 17-3-2014 by blogfast25]




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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 11:47


You should also look into electrolysis of a sodium salt in propylene carbonate. There are several threads here that talk about this. It would be interesting if someone tried it because, AFAIK, no one has tried it.
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Zyklon-A
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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 11:51


A few people have tried it. And I will be as soon as my propylene carbonate comes.



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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 11:54


Quote: Originally posted by Zyklonb  
A few people have tried it.


Like who? You mean here or literature reports?




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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 11:55


Quote: Originally posted by Zyklonb  
A few people have tried it. And I will be as soon as my propylene carbonate comes.


Looking forward to it then xD
I've been wanting to make sompe popylene carbonate but was waiting for a positive confirmation from someone, about the sodium route. I could always try it myself, but the past months have been really busy, and I haven't had much time for chemistry.
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HgDinis25
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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 11:56


Quote: Originally posted by blogfast25  
Quote: Originally posted by Zyklonb  
A few people have tried it.


Like who? You mean here or literature reports?


I believe he's talking about a member who posted a really good way to make propylene carbonate with some high yelds. On that topic someone refered having a little bit of sucess. Going to dig to se if I can find such topic.
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Oscilllator
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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 17:08


@ HgDinis25 are you talking about This thread?



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Zyklon-A
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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 17:15


Quote: Originally posted by blogfast25  
Quote: Originally posted by Zyklonb  
A few people have tried it.


Like who? You mean here or literature reports?

I mean literature reports, I don't know of anyone here who has tried it.
Quote: Originally posted by HgDinis25  


I believe he's talking about a member who posted a really good way to make propylene carbonate with some high yelds. On that topic someone refered having a little bit of sucess. Going to dig to se if I can find such topic.

No, I bought my propylene carbonate, I wasn't talking about that.;)
[EDIT]
Quote: Originally posted by HgDinis25  


Looking forward to it then xD

Me too! You can read about here. Although no action has been made as far as trials or testing are concerned. Because my PC hasn't come yet.:(

[Edited on 18-3-2014 by Zyklonb]




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HgDinis25
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[*] posted on 17-3-2014 at 17:18


Quote: Originally posted by Oscilllator  
@ HgDinis25 are you talking about This thread?


Yap, looks like you were the one I was talking about. I remembered it because of the good chemistry that was done on that topic, but I had seen it a few months ago, so I wasn't sure.
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[*] posted on 18-3-2014 at 14:26


If you can get hold of it sodium can be prepared by carefully heating small quantities of sodium azide in an inert atmosphere. The big proviso being that the azide must be pure and it must be heated carefully.
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[*] posted on 18-3-2014 at 14:29


Quote: Originally posted by nezza  
If you can get hold of it sodium can be prepared by carefully heating small quantities of sodium azide in an inert atmosphere. The big proviso being that the azide must be pure and it must be heated carefully.


Do you have any references to back you up or am I just missing something? That sounds like a good way to lose a few fingers...
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[*] posted on 18-3-2014 at 14:40


The decomposition of sodium azide is indeed explosive - it's how air bags work (or used to, at any rate).



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[*] posted on 18-3-2014 at 15:16


I remember reading on this forum, someone isolated cesium by decomposing the corresponding azide. I think her name was Valentine. (I hope it was a 'her'.) I will look for it....
[edit]
Here it is:http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=22890&...


[Edited on 18-3-2014 by Zyklonb]




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[*] posted on 18-3-2014 at 15:23


Quote: Originally posted by Zyklonb  
I remember reading on this forum, someone isolated cesium by decomposing the corresponding azide. I think her name was Valentine. (I hope it was a 'her'.) I will look for it....
[edit]
Here it is:http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=22890&...


[Edited on 18-3-2014 by Zyklonb]


My best bet is that, when descending in the alkaline series, the azides get more stable to explosion. Wiki states that potassium azide, already, can be used to isolate potassium:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_azide

Elementcollector was actively participating on the topic you've posted so he should be able to share some light on us.
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[*] posted on 18-3-2014 at 15:56


The decomposition of caesium azide was carried out under inert atmosphere, with no flame-related sources of heat. Even then, the yield wasn't very good, and followup experimentation was nonexistent (I would have been interested to see where 15-20g would have gotten Valentine).
Decomposition of azides is hazardous, because if the strictest conditions are not followed, azides tend to explode. Given that you have to first distill hydrazoic acid, react this with a caesium salt and isolate this compound, then melt it, I would not suggest this route.
Caesium is already explosive enough - don't add to the danger!




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Zyklon-A
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[*] posted on 18-3-2014 at 16:25


I have no intention to get cesium yet.
No to mention the fact that this is on the subject of producing sodium.... As if we didn't have enough threads on this topic.




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