Sodium form

To date there is no evidence that sodium forms any chloride other than NaCl indeed the electronic theory of valency predicts that Na" and CU, with their noble gas configurations, are likely to be the most stable ionic species. However, since some noble gas atoms can lose electrons to form cations (p. 354) we cannot rely fully on this theory. We therefore need to examine the evidence provided by energetic data. Let us consider the formation of a number of possible ionic compounds and first, the formation of sodium dichloride , NaCl2. The energy diagram for the formation of this hypothetical compound follows the pattern of that for NaCl but an additional endothermic step is added for the second ionisation energy of sodium. The lattice energy is calculated on the assumption that the compound is ionic and that Na is comparable in size with Mg ". The data are summarised below (standard enthalpies in kJ) ... 

Sodium hydroxide is manufactured by electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride the other product of the electrolysis, chlorine, is equally important and hence separation of anode and cathode products is necessary. This is achieved either by a diaphragm (for example in the Hooker electrolytic cell) or by using a mercury cathode which takes up the sodium formed at the cathode as an amalgam (the Kellner-Solvay ceW). The amalgam, after removal from the electrolyte cell, is treated with water to give sodium hydroxide and mercury. The mercury cell is more costly to operate but gives a purer product. 

Water. Distilled water must be (a) redistilled in an all-Pyrex glass apparatus or (b) purified by passage through a column of cation exchange resin in the sodium form. For storage, polyethylene bottles are most satisfactory, particularly for very dilute (0.00 lAf) EDTA solutions. 

The sodium form of weakacid resins has exceptionally high selectivity for divalent cations in neutral, basic, and slightly acidic solutions. 

A problem common to produced water appHcations is the tendency for oil fouling of the resin. If weak acid or chelate resins are used, a two-step regeneration process is required which uses acid to remove calcium and magnesium from the resin, foUowed by a dilute NaOH solution to convert the resin to the sodium form. 

Sodium forms unstable solutions in Hquid ammonia, where a slow reaction takes place to form sodamide and hydrogen, as foUows ... 

Nitrogen and sodium do not react at any temperature under ordinary circumstances, but are reported to form the nitride or azide under the influence of an electric discharge (14,35). Sodium siHcide, NaSi, has been synthesized from the elements (36,37). When heated together, sodium and phosphoms form sodium phosphide, but in the presence of air with ignition sodium phosphate is formed. Sulfur, selenium, and tellurium form the sulfide, selenide, and teUuride, respectively. In vapor phase, sodium forms haHdes with all halogens (14). At room temperature, chlorine and bromine react rapidly with thin films of sodium (38), whereas fluorine and sodium ignite. Molten sodium ignites in chlorine and bums to sodium chloride (see Sodium COMPOUNDS, SODIUM HALIDES). 

After the feed solution is processed to the extent that the resin becomes exhausted and caimot accomplish any further ion exchange, the resin must be regenerated. In normal column operation, for a cation system being converted first to the hydrogen then to the sodium form, regeneration employs the following basic steps ... 

The bed is brought in contact with a sodium hydroxide solution to convert the resin to the sodium form. Again, a slow water rinse is used to remove residual caustic. The slow rinse pushes the last of the regenerant through the column. 

Regenerant The solution used to restore the activity of an ion exchanger. Acids are employed to restore a cation exchanger to its hydrogen form brine solutions may be used to convert the cation exchanger to the sodium form. The anion exchanger may be rejuvenated by treatment with an alkaline solution. 

Strongly acidic cation exchangers (polystyrene sulphonic acid resins). These resins (Duolite C225, Amberlite 120, etc.) are usually marketed in the sodium form and to convert them into the hydrogen form (which, it may be noted, are also available commercially) the following procedure may be used. 

Weakly acidic cation exchangers (e.g. polymethylacrylic acid resins). These resins (Zerolit 226, Amberlite 50, etc.) are usually supplied in the hydrogen form. They are readily changed into the sodium form by treatment with 1M sodium hydroxide an increase in volume of 80-100 per cent may be expected. The swelling is reversible and does not appear to cause any damage to the bead structure. Below a pH of about 3.5, the hydrogen form exists almost entirely in the little ionised carboxylic acid form. Exchange with metal ions will occur in solution only when these are associated in solution with anions of weak acids, i.e. pH values above about 4. 

Electron transfer to a suitable monomer leads to the formation of an ion pair like M, NaL The negative monomer" ion may react again with sodium forming a Na—M—Na unit. The latter arises, therefore, as a product of two consecutive reactions, e.g.,... 

This overdiscliarge reaction can proceed as long sodium is available. To build the overdischarge capacity into the cell, the cells will be constructed with an addition of some aluminum powder which reacts first according to Eq. (3). The sodium formed during this reaction provides the overdischargc capability of the cell [6], The situation is schematically shown in Fig. 3. 

Split-stream strong acid cation, employing resins in both hydrogen and sodium form, followed by blending and deaeration... 

Resins containing these functional groups are generally available in one or more forms for example, strong acid cation resin is typically a sulfonated polystyrene type, available either in the hydrogen form (H+ ) or in the sodium form (Na+). The sodium form of this resin is used for water softening. 

Resin is a strong acid cation in sodium form, fully hydrated typically 53 lb/ cu ft at 45% moisture content (0.85 kg/1). 

Part of a softener regeneration process whereby the cation ion exchange resin is converted to the sodium form by the application of a, typically, 10 to 15% W/V strength of brine (sodium chloride). 

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