Studies of free radical reactions in molten salts by glow-discharge electrolysis. Part 1.—Molten nitrates

Abstract

The chemical effects of glow-discharge electrolysis (GDE) have been investigated for molten nitrate electrolytes. The yields are characteristically different from those of conventional electrolysis; for example nitrite and “oxide” are found among the anodic products. Furthermore, for solutions of KI in a KNO₃+ Ca(NO₃)₂(2:1) melt, anodic yields of iodine are found to be in excess of Faraday's law. The effects of GDE are attributed to free radical reactions which occur in the melt following the charge transfer process NO^–₃+ Ar⁺= NO₃+ Ar, and an additional process, NO^–₃+ NO^–₃ [graphic omitted] NO^2–₃+ NO₃. There is a close correlation between GDE and radiation chemistry.