NCERT/CBSE CHEMISTRY CLASS 11 textbook

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Solutions/Answers to NCERT/CBSE CHEMISTRY Class 11(Class XI)textbook
CHAPTER TEN
The s-Block Elements

10.16 Starting with sodium chloride how would you proceed to prepare

(i) Sodium metal: - Sodium metal is manufactured by the electrolysis of molten sodium
chloride in the presence of calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is used for lowering the
melting point of sodium chloride. The electrolytic reaction is as follows.
NaCl Na+ + Cl-

At Cathode: - Na+ + e- Na

At Anode: -Cl- Cl +e-

Cl + Cl Cl2

(ii) Sodium hydroxide: - Sodium hydroxide is manufactured by the elctrolysis of brine

solution in a specially designed cell called the Castner Kellner cell. The cell is divided
into three partitions. The graphite anode is fixed on the two outer partitions while the
cathode is iron rods which is fit in the central compartment. A layer of mercury, which
serves an intermittent electrode, covers the bottom of the cell. Brine solution is placed in
the outer compartments. The equation for the electrolytic process is as given below.
Outer Compartment:-The mercury layer acts as the cathode:-

NaCl Na+ + Cl-

At Cathode: - Na+ + e- Na

At Anode: -Cl- Cl +e-

Cl + Cl Cl2

The sodium, which is formed, dissolves in mercury to form an amalgam. It goes into the central
compartment.

Central Compartment: - Here sodium amalgam acts as anode by induction. Sodium reacts with
water to form NaOH and H2. Hydrogen gas is liberated at the cathode. The equations are as
given below.

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2 Na/Hg + 2 H 2 O = 2 NaOH + H2 + 2Hg

When the conc of NaOH reaches 20%, it is removed and the solution is concentrated
to get solid NaOH.

(iii) Sodium peroxide: - First Sodium metal is produced. Sodium metal is manufactured by
the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride in the presence of calcium chloride. Calcium
chloride is used for lowering the melting point of sodium chloride. The electrolytic
reaction is as follows.
NaCl Na+ + Cl-

At Cathode: - Na+ + e- Na

At Anode: -Cl- Cl +e-

Cl + Cl Cl2

The sodium metal obtained is oxidized with excess of air, when sodium peroxide
is produced.
2Na + O2 Na2O2

(iv) Sodium carbonate: - Solvay process is used for the manufacture of Na2CO3 from brine
solution (NaCl solution.) The various steps followed in the manufacture of sodium carbonate are

The first step in the process, is carbon dioxide (CO2) passes through a concentrated
aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) and ammonia (NH3).

NaCl + CO2 + NH3 + H2O NaHCO3 + NH4Cl (I)

The sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) that precipitates out in reaction (I) is filtered out from
the hot ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) solution, and the solution is then reacted with the
quicklime calcium oxide (CaO) . The CaO required is obtained from reaction (II)

2 NH4Cl + CaO 2 NH3 + CaCl2 + H2O

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The insoluble sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) formed in reaction (I) is then converted to
sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), by calcination (160 - 230 C), producing Na2CO3 .Water
and carbon dioxide are formed as byproducts .

2 NaHCO3 Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

The carbon dioxide required for reaction (I) is produced by heating limestone at 950 -
1100 C. The calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the limestone is converted to calcium oxide
(CaO) and carbon dioxide:

CaCO3 CO2 + CaO (II)

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