The results of preliminary observations upon the electrolytic behavior of aluminum in liquid ammonia have been reported in an earlier comiiiuriication from this Laboratory.' More detailed investigations, and their results, are described in the present paper. ExperimentalMaterials.-A method outlined by Fitzgerd1dZ was used for the preparation of anhydrous aluminum iodide. The liquid ammonia used in the experiments was obtained by the condensation of gaseous ammonia from a commercial cylinder into the electrolytic cells. The cathode consisted of a strip of bright platinum, approximately 10 sq. cm. in area, and a rod of aluminum3 of high purity, 0.63 Fig 1 --Electrolytic cell A. aluminum anode; C, platinum cathode; B, mercury manometer; D, low temperature condenser, filled with Dry Ice-alcohol mixture; E, gas outlet, through trap into LL jar of water.(1) Davidson. Kleioberg, Bennett and McBlroy, THIS JOURNAL, (2) Fitzgerald, ibrd , 49, 1693 (1907) (3) The aluminum rod. of 99 996% purity, was furnished by the Aluminum Company of America through the courtesy of Dr. P. V. Faragher 71, 377 (1949).cm. in diameter and 4 cm. long, served as the anode. The concentration of the electrolyte, aluminum iodide, varied from about 0.1 g. to 0.5 g. in 50 g. of ammonia. Cathode current densities were usually within the range from 0.005 to 0.1 amp. per sq. cm. An inert atmosphere was maintained in the electrolytic cell by continuous passage through it of nitrogen which had been circulated over heated strips of metallic copper to remove oxygen, and then passed through a calcium chloride drying tower.Apparatus and Experimental Procedure.-The apparatus for the electrolytic expts. is illustrated in Fig. 1. The entire apparatus was dried before each run by having nitrogen passed through it for four or five hours. The electrolyte was then added and gaseous ammonia was condensed in the cell. By immersion of the cell in a Dry Icealcohol-bath, the electrolyses could be cazried out at temperatures in the range from -33 to -78 . The condenser D was not used during the conductivity measurements, since the conductivity electrodes were introduced into the electrolytic cell through a ground-glass joint used to connect the condenser to the cell. In order to collect and measure the gas evolved, electrolyses were camed out at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of about -50". Upon completion of the electrolysis, the solution was stirred with a glass-encased magnetic stirrer until the blue color had entirely disappeared. The effluent gases were collected over mercury, ammonia was removed by scrubbing through dilute sulfuric acid solution and hydrogen was determined in the residual gas by combustion with oxygen.A silver coulometer was included in the electrical circuit so that the quantity of electricity could be correlated with the loss of weight of the anode, and with the amount of gas liberated. Results and Discussion'The time required for the formation of the intensely blue solutions, and the permanence of the color after the termination of el...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.