Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide and why???

[dizzy]

[BillyHydrogen]

[mrgalleria]

[glenn_aircooled]

[SeaMonkey]

Glenn,

Your explanation of the suitability of either Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide and their relative efficiencies is exceptionally good.

You are to be commended for calling the electrolyte solution precisely what it is. Here in America, among the new experimenters with HydrOxy generation by electrolysis, it has become commonplace to refer to the Hydroxides as "catalysts."

Apparently this stems from the advertisements for Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide by those who sell in bulk for BioDiesel use. In the process of converting fatty acids (vegetable or animal fats) to either the Methyl or Ethyl Ester the Hydroxides do function as a catalyst. Therefore the Hydroxides are marketed as "Catalysts" for that application.

Many of the new experimenters have no background in Chemistry and are becoming confused by the ads, and the terminology used by others who are new in the many forums, in referring to the electrolyte as a catalyst.

It may seem a small thing, but I for one truly appreciate when one has the knowledge to know the difference. Well done!

[hypersoniq]

I have not experimented with KOH, but I know that NaOH can get HOT if you put too much in water.

Also remember that you put the water in FIRST!

[dizzy]

[SeaMonkey]

[glenn_aircooled]

Thanks SeaMonkey, I did forget to add the " Why "........
The potassium hydroxy solution is better because it gives something like
5 % better yield compared to sodium hydroxide solution.
If you cant get KOH then by all means use NaOH [ sodium hydroxide ].
.
- I believe there is a Catalyst in this reaction..............
and it is the Nickel in the High Quality Stainless Steel [thats why its great
to use 316 Stainless Steel - more nickel content ].
- -
There is a point where too much KOH or NaOH in the solution will reduce
Hydroxy production. This is because the water is the part that is splitting
into the Hydrogen and Oxygen.... so when there's not enough - it slows.
My thought is that because KOH is able to be mixed in greater concentration - then this leads to the ability to produce more Hydroxy.
There may be some chemical reason why its better - I dont know.
Glenn.

[dizzy]

Hi Guys...OK understand and thank you for all that, much appreciated...couple of things: there are several grades of 316 the most common are 316N and 316L I am not sure which has the higher Nickel content, the nomenclature would suggest the 'N'??...and the observation to keep the cell voltage to 2-2.5v (seamonkey) how exactly is this achieved in a multi cell configuration and how is it measured??...thanx in advance...dizzy

[huck]