Can i make NaOH from CaOH

[420hydroxide]

Can i make sodium hydroxide from calcium hydroxide? What chemicals are needed? And what are the differances beetween the 2 + will CaOH react with aluminum foil and water the same as NaOH will? Thanks

[John Cuthber]

Yes, you can, but why do you want to?

[420hydroxide]

Conducting 2 experiments

1. Can i make it from CaOH

2. Will it be as good or worse than store bought NaOH

Should be kool if they have the same level of reactiveness:)

Would you mind telling me how man? Thanks

[hypervalent_iodine]

That doesn't answer John Cuthber's question. Additionally, it's Ca(OH)₂, not CaOH.

[John Cuthber]

It is unlikely that home made NaOH will be as good as the stuff you buy. They have had a lot more practice.

[420hydroxide]

Iodine, i think it does actually? Thats all im using it for, but thanks for the reply, sorry i will say Ca(OH) instead:)

Ye john your probably right, so what other chemicals are needed and what is the method used? Thanks

[mississippichem]

Iodine, i think it does actually? Thats all im using it for, but thanks for the reply, sorry i will say Ca(OH) instead:)

Ye john your probably right, so what other chemicals are needed and what is the method used? Thanks

 

He is definitely right. As far as industrial production goes, I think that it's usually done by electrolysis of concentrated aqueous NaCl IIRC. If my electrochem brain is working today that means you should get Cl₂ gas at the anode and NaOH at the cathode. No idea what kind of electrodes you would use for that. I don't recommend you try it either lest you get a whiff of Cl₂.

 

EDIT: upon balancing this reaction on the little piece of paper next to me, I realized that you should get H₂ as well at the cathode. So really don't try this!

Edited March 30, 2012 by mississippichem

[elementcollector1]

First, I recommend carbon electrodes for the task.

 

 

Second, I am actually performing this experiment with baking soda as we speak, with a former Gameboy charger hooked up to the electrodes and bubbling quickly, much more so than a salt solution. Plus, no chlorine, just carbon dioxide. However, my electrodes seem to be corroding slowly, as the beaker is flooded with black particles.

 

 

Third, the synthesis of NaOH through Ca(OH)2 is kind of annoying me at present, due to the low solubility of Ca(OH)2 and thus vast amounts of solution needed.

Ca(OH)₂ + Na₂CO₃ → CaCO₃ + 2 NaOH (Stolen from Wikipedia)

 

If the electrolysis method works, I'm definitely using that.

[420hydroxide]

Uh oh looks like im a bit short on supplies, thanks very much for all the replies though:)

Apreciated

[Fanghur]

What the heck is everyone smoking here? Calcium and Sodium are two completely different elements, you can't just convert calcium into sodium, at least not in any way that isn't impossible with current technology. If you have some sodium with you then you could quite easily make sodium hydroxide, as CaOH if I'm not mistaken is water soluble. But you can't just take CaOH and turn it into NaOH; that would be alchemy.

[hypervalent_iodine]

No one was promoting transmutation of metals, just simple chemistry. Perhaps try reading the thread. Elementcollector1 has already provided one reaction.

 

Third, the synthesis of NaOH through Ca(OH)2 is kind of annoying me at present, due to the low solubility of Ca(OH)2 and thus vast amounts of solution needed.

Ca(OH)₂ + Na₂CO₃ → CaCO₃ + 2 NaOH (Stolen from Wikipedia)