[ballhog128]

I ran 2 seperate experiments today

one running an electric current through copper wires into a KCL+H2O solution

and the other usine NACL instead of KCL

why is one precipitate orange and the other green?

what are these two precipitates?

Thanks for your help

[P-man]

The Na and the K would give the precipitate it's color, I'm guessing. But you said one of the prcipitates was green, and chlorine (Cl) is a greenish-yellow gas. It might help to know the products of the reaction.

Pierre

[Garneck]

I ran 2 seperate experiments today

one running an electric current through copper wires into a KCL+H2O solution

and the other usine NACL instead of KCL

why is one precipitate orange and the other green?

what are these two precipitates?

Thanks for your help

What?? I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about.

[Grumples]

I looked this reaction up a little while ago, and it should take place as follows:

2H20 + 2Cl- ----> 2OH- + Cl2 + H2

the Na and K ions are spectators.

although the Cl2 gas could be responsible for the green color, nothing would explain the orange.  also, I doubt that chlorine gas would really dissolve in water all that much anyway (non-polar solute in polar solvent).  if I were you, I'd look at the *colors of the wire insulation*.  I've seen the insulation on those wires just come off in a reaction like this, and leave sort of a disgusting bunch of colored specks on the surface.

[hmx9123]

Actually, chlorine is reasoably polar, and does dissolve in water to a reasonable percent.  Take a look on google for 'chlorine water'.

[AWK]

may be it was KBr instaed of KCl