[HatsuneMiku9999]

Hi! at last I can get some NaOH and KOH to make NaK metal. I tried to get sodium via electrolysis, and it worked. I got some sodium. I used a silver cathode. Then I tried to electrolyse some KOH. It didn't work. I wonder why? Was it because the silver reacts spontaneously with the potassium? Or was it because the potassium burns in air (it sometimes also happens to sodium if the temperature of the molten caustic soda gets too high)? What should I do? Should I get a platinum (or, platinum-plated silver) electrodes?

[HatsuneMiku9999]

ehm, another question:
is it true that you can make copper sulfate (CuSO4) by putting copper electrodes and flow some electricity?
thanks

[billnotgatez]

post 1
both sodium and potassium are very reactive in air
seems based on youtube that the sodium hydroxide has more posts than potassium hydroxide
the potassium has warnings on youtube about explosive results
Be very careful and have lots of safety equipment and procedures
Based on the reactivity of both sodium and potassium in air and air that has moisture in it, I wonder how pure you got and how long it stayed pure.

post 2
where is it sulfate with just passing electricity through copper
------------------\
With your posts it seems you have not researched enough or understand well enough the chemical reactions you are working with
That would be a formula for disaster

I am not trying to stop you from experimenting
I am asking you not to do stupid experimenting

[HatsuneMiku9999]

1. The molten sodium produced sticks to the silver electrodes which shape is like a little spoon (actually my electrode is a device to clear your ear), and if I dip the spoon deep enough, it will sink together with the spoon, preventing it from reacting with air. When doing this with potassium, the silver electrode turns black, and the caustic potash turns greenish dark brown (compared to caustic soda that just turns dark brown, not greenish)

2. Sorry I forgot to mention, "put copper electrodes in sulfuric acid and flow some electricity".
Thanks

[billnotgatez]

Post 1
Based on your results it appear that there is some reactivity with potassium and silver but one can not rule out impurities in the spoon or potassium hydroxide. Since I have not done what you are doing I do not have certain knowledge. If I were to do what you are attempting I would have to research it extensively. I would also research and apply all the safety necessary.

Post 2
My experience with copper electrodes and electrolysis has been that it the copper electrodes tend to react with lots of things. That is why I use carbon rods for my experiments. I would use platinum electrode, but I am not flush with cash.

[HatsuneMiku9999]

I think the idea is to react the copper and sulfuric acid (via electrolysis) to form copper sulfate (replace hydrogen in sulfuric acid with copper), but I want to know does it really work before bringing dangerous acid into my house.

[Borek]

Hi! at last I can get some NaOH and KOH to make NaK metal. I tried to get sodium via electrolysis, and it worked. I got some sodium.

I want to know does it really work before bringing dangerous acid into my house.

It doesn't make much sense - metallic sodium is about as dangerous as sulfuric acid, perhaps even worse. The only thing that is obvious for me is that you have no idea what you are doing. For your own safety start with something easier.

[xx0numb0xx]

Electrolysis of sulfuric acid with copper electrodes will definitely make copper sulfate and hydrogen gas. I advise you to dilute the sulfuric acid to a reasonably safe concentration. Remember, when diluting acids, pour acid into water and not the other way around. For efficiency, you have to try to keep the copper sulfate from reaching the cathode (negative electrode). Once the blue portion of the solution reaches the cathode, copper ions will be reduced and plated onto the cathode, reducing the efficiency of the cell. You end up moving copper from the anode to the cathode rather than displacing hydrogen with copper. Evaporation will remove the water and sulfuric acid.

As for the potassium/sodium electrolysis, I can't imagine why you would want a NaK alloy or pure potassium. Burning sodium in water is a neat (although dangerous) demonstration, but potassium is far too reactive for anything done at home. Potassium is so reactive that it burns in air to form potassium peroxide and potassium superoxide. Potassium peroxide reacts with more potassium to form potassium oxide. Potassium peroxide, potassium superoxide, and potassium oxide are each also dangerously reactive. These could be your source of color change, which is a very, very bad thing.

BOTH production and storage of potassium and NaK alloys must be done in an inert atmosphere, such as pure argon or nitrogen. I doubt anyone is capable of doing this sufficiently at home. The potassium superoxide layer is formed on potassium and NaK alloys immediately in air. Once this happens, there is no safe way of storing the metal. Potassium superoxide is dangerously reactive with organic compounds. Sodium and potassium often stored in mineral oil due to density issues. In 1999, there was a VERY large explosion because somebody spilled a NaK alloy, cleaned it up, and put it in mineral oil for storage after the potassium superoxide layer had formed.

In short, stick to aqueous electrolytes. If you can't settle with that, stick with sodium as your most reactive product of electrolysis. Take advantage of every precaution available to you if you decide to continue your endeavors.