A student wishes to perform an electrolysis lab for an aqueous sodium fluoride solution according to the reaction,
Na +(aq) + 2 F –(aq) --> F2(g) + Na(s).
Why is this not possible?
2007-05-17 08:16:50 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Because fluorine is a heck of a lot more electronegative than sodium (or any other element, for that matter, so there is nothing powerful enough to force the reaction). Fluorine is happiest in its -1 state and sodium is happiest as a +1 ion. They both have noble gas electron configuration.
2007-05-17 08:21:58 · answer #1 · answered by chemmie 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, sodium metal (your end result) will react violently with the water in the solution to make NaOH and H2 gas. Any sodium produced will just go to make sodium hydroxide. You will not be able to get sodium metal out of it.
2007-05-17 15:22:03 · answer #2 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋