Isolating Sodium from Sodium Hydroxide

[Dean13]

Does anyone know if it's okay to use 'Draino' to extract the sodium from its sodium hydroxide through electrolysis?

 

I know that sodium can be obtained from NaOH (caustic soda) but the issue is that Draino also contains two other substances that are present in the powder with the NaOH, can I still use it?

 

Thanks

[Sensei]

Does anyone know if it's okay to use 'Draino' to extract the sodium from its sodium hydroxide through electrolysis?

 

I know that sodium can be obtained from NaOH (caustic soda) but the issue is that Draino also contains two other substances that are present in the powder with the NaOH, can I still use it?

 

Didn't you mean Drano, rather than Draino.. ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drano

Edited June 28, 2016 by Sensei

[Dean13]

 

Didn't you mean Drano, rather than Draino.. ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drano

Yes

Edited June 28, 2016 by Dean13

[Enthalpy]

Decades ago I had an equivalent containing only NaOH and Al, no idea if it's available where you live. After dissolution, Al can be removed by filtering.

[Sensei]

Decades ago I had an equivalent containing only NaOH and Al,

I have it right now, and even did this reaction this week..

 

no idea if it's available where you live. After dissolution, Al can be removed by filtering.

If you add NaOH + Al + H₂O there is created Sodium Aluminate, and Hydrogen gas..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_aluminate

 

2 Al + 2 NaOH + 2 H₂O → 2 NaAlO₂ + 3 H₂

 

According to Safety page of

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide

2 Al + 6 NaOH → 3 H₂ + 2 Na₃AlO₃

2 Al + 2 NaOH + 2 H₂O → 3 H₂ + 2 NaAlO₂

2 Al + 2 NaOH + 6 H₂O → 3 H₂ + 2 NaAl(OH)₄

Edited June 29, 2016 by Sensei

[Enthalpy]

For having done it, I know that one has plenty of time to remove the aluminium.

[Sensei]

For having done it, I know that one has plenty of time to remove the aluminium.

I would like to see it.

Please provide photos.

Or maybe even better make YouTube video?

1 mln view count = ~$1k earned

Should be enough encouragement to perform experiment in the front of camera.. ?

 

What is purpose of "filtering Aluminium"?

Because OP wants to have Sodium metallic, if you didn't notice..

Edited July 1, 2016 by Sensei

[John Cuthber]

Sensei.

You seem to think that the reaction with Al will be instant- it isn't., especially if you use alcohol as the solvent, rather than water.

On the other hand, you also seem to think that destroying the NaOH by reaction with Al won't matter when you try to electrolyse the molten alkali.

It probably would, Electrolysis of sodium aluminate / hydroxide mixtures would waste power making aluminium which would reduce the hydroxide to hydrogen (though I suspect that would happen without the Al) hence the requirement to remove it.

I'm not sure what you mean by the $1000 comment, could you explain ti?

[Sensei]

I'm not sure what you mean by the $1000 comment, could you explain ti?

If YouTube video has enabled ads,

each 1000 views (approximately), gives $1 income in ads,

so 1 mln views will give approximately $1k income (as long as enough and exceed threshold set by user).

Basically Google pays video owner each month.

As long as it has viewers interested to watch it.

Something unusual, interesting, has large viewer count.