The town of Natrium, West Virginia, derives its name from the sodium produced in the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride (NaCl) mined from ancient salt deposits. The number of kilowatt- hours of electricity required to produce 4.60 kg of metallic sodium from the electrolysis of molten NaCl(s) is when the applied emf is 4.50 V.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To calculate the energy required, first determine the moles of sodium produced (4.60 kg = 200 mol Na). The electrolysis of NaCl requires 1 mole of electrons per mole of Na. Using Faraday's constant (96485 C/mol), calculate the total charge: 200 mol * 96485 C/mol = 19297000 C. The energy in joules is charge * voltage: 19297000 C * 4.50 V = 86836500 J. Convert joules to kilowatt-hours: 86836500 J / (3.6 * 10^6 J/kWh) = 24.1 kWh.

The Town of Natrium, West Virginia, Derives Its Name from the Sodium