- #1
daniel350
- 13
- 0
I for inquisitional purposes only recently attempted electrolysis of Iron to create Iron oxide. I used a car battery charger (12v, 2.7A) and two large (assumed iron) nails; a de-ionized water solution (200ml) with approx. 15g sea salt (claimed 99.995%).
After starting the reaction (outside with respiration), it appeared to be going well; however as time wore on (approx 15minutes), the solution turned clear, with large bubbles containing all the solutions previous red particulates.
Inquisitive, I watched it from afar, and saw it transition from the following colours: [clear, green, blue, grey]. I saw it stay this grey colour for the rest of its duration with large particles floating around, the froth on top had now grown to 2cm high, and was largely green and red (appeared as fine particles coating the bubbles).
To say the least, it looked disgusting. However I took my precautions with it, seeing as it was an unknown and without further investigation diluted and disposed of it. The submerged sections of the nails were a dark black and appeared to be what may have been solid iron; after 3 minutes however this dark black section became fully oxidized (rusted).
After seeing all these estranged results, it appeared that things had not gone to plan. :p
I theorized it to be a mix of Iron Hydroxide after using the search engine, (and turning up this which had some resemblance: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms/Chem_FeOH.jpg - however less thick); and it appeared to be in too great a volume to be the zinc protective coatings that was on either nails.
And my theory for the green coloured bubbles/froth I could only see as electrolyzed chlorine gas that had not escaped.
Is anyone able to shed some light on these results, and perhaps confirm / destroy my theory's as what it may have been.
P.S: This is not for anything specific, I already have large amounts of FeO in storage, it was purely inquisitorial as stated above. (received some flak on another forum).
After starting the reaction (outside with respiration), it appeared to be going well; however as time wore on (approx 15minutes), the solution turned clear, with large bubbles containing all the solutions previous red particulates.
Inquisitive, I watched it from afar, and saw it transition from the following colours: [clear, green, blue, grey]. I saw it stay this grey colour for the rest of its duration with large particles floating around, the froth on top had now grown to 2cm high, and was largely green and red (appeared as fine particles coating the bubbles).
To say the least, it looked disgusting. However I took my precautions with it, seeing as it was an unknown and without further investigation diluted and disposed of it. The submerged sections of the nails were a dark black and appeared to be what may have been solid iron; after 3 minutes however this dark black section became fully oxidized (rusted).
After seeing all these estranged results, it appeared that things had not gone to plan. :p
I theorized it to be a mix of Iron Hydroxide after using the search engine, (and turning up this which had some resemblance: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms/Chem_FeOH.jpg - however less thick); and it appeared to be in too great a volume to be the zinc protective coatings that was on either nails.
And my theory for the green coloured bubbles/froth I could only see as electrolyzed chlorine gas that had not escaped.
Is anyone able to shed some light on these results, and perhaps confirm / destroy my theory's as what it may have been.
P.S: This is not for anything specific, I already have large amounts of FeO in storage, it was purely inquisitorial as stated above. (received some flak on another forum).