Australia's Science Forum

I'm amazed at all this

Hi Xenon, Rainbow Sky and Robb

Thanks for the interesting topic and info.
To really impress my teachers perhaps you could enlighten me a little as to the puging of the Nitrogen
Have a great day
Judy

Hi Judy,

The Purging of the Nitrogen is to prevent any air from taking part and having any effect on the formation of the Sodium.

As we know if Sodium is cut and exposed to air, it oxidises very quickly and forms Sodium Oxide on the surface of the freshly exposed side. Therefore if the atmosphere was of inert nature then no oxidation can take place.

This is also to protect the Sodium from exploding when exposed to oxygen, moisture that is present in air as we know it.

Nitrogen is used over other inert gases eg Argon because Nitrogen is certainly the cheapest option.

Hope this enlightens the subject more,

Robb...

Chee willickers Robb
thanks for that
It all seems a bit obvious now
but if purging is purifying, how do they do that to the Nitrogen, I wonder?
I'm guessing its something to do with temp change -maybe ?

Judy

Hi Judy,

Just keep in mind that the purging occurs with the Nitrogen surrounding the Sodium Metal being formed. It does not interact, interfere purify or play any other role except to starve the area around the metal which would normally contain moist atmospheric air.

Cheers,

Robb....

Hi Robb
I realise how the reaction goes
but you spoke of purged Nitrogren which I assumed to mean that the Nitrogen itself was purged before it could be used to create the inert atmosphere so that the electolysis could proceed as required.
What I understand you to be saying now is that the purging is the actual effect of the Nitrogen in eliminating the presence of Oxygen or anything else that might interfere.
I think I've got it now
thanks for that
Judy