jake8

In my experience, electrolysis of aluminum chloride with iron anodes produces aluminum on one side and chlorine on the other, which would swiftly react with the iron to make iron chloride (probably hexahydrate). Not much, if any, iron oxide would be made, since there is no oxygen ion in the reaction (the water is probably not undergoing electrolysis if the aluminum chloride is). However, your query brings up another interesting reaction. Normal thermite: Fe2O3 + 2Al --> Al2O3 + 2Fe + Lots of energy But wouldn't this reaction generate even more energy if an anion more reactive than the oxide ion were used? Say, chloride? Does anyone know if this would work? FeCl3 + Al --> AlCl3 + Fe + ?Energy? Just wondering. If you want a faster way to make iron chloride, just react hydrochloric acid with Iron, or, even better, put sodium chloride (rock salt) through electrolysis with iron anodes. Another question: Does anyone have a really great, fast way of evaporating water out of a solution? Leaving the solution outside is slow and I don't wany get chemicals in the microwave and I don't have a hot plate. So far, the best i've got is a haridryer. Suggestions?