Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: ...lets split up... on 12/10/2010 12:57:30

Title: Can you mix molten metal and molten salt?
Post by: ...lets split up... on 12/10/2010 12:57:30

I was wondering if it is possible to mix molten metal and molten salt. I understand the difference in boiling points might play a role, but if one were to get it right what would the properties of the product be?

Tried to find it on the internet but couldn't.

Title: Can you mix molten metal and molten salt?
Post by: lightarrow on 12/10/2010 15:19:25

No, you can't, because there are no attraction between molten metal atoms and molten salt ions/molecules, the kind of bonding in a metal and in a salt is completely different.

Title: Can you mix molten metal and molten salt?
Post by: ...lets split up... on 13/10/2010 11:24:41

Cool, thanks. They make carbon steel, so i was wondering what happens if you try it with other stuff.

Title: Re: Can you mix molten metal and molten salt?
Post by: syhprum on 08/11/2019 15:50:58

Metallic Aluminium is produced by passing an electric current thru a molten salt

Title: Re: Can you mix molten metal and molten salt?
Post by: Kryptid on 08/11/2019 17:01:26

Some metals will indeed dissolve to some extent in their molten salts (for example, metallic sodium in molten sodium chloride): https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ja01607a016

Title: Re: Can you mix molten metal and molten salt?
Post by: Bored chemist on 08/11/2019 18:06:48

Quote from: lightarrow on 12/10/2010 15:19:25

No, you can't, because there are no attraction between molten metal atoms and molten salt ions/molecules, the kind of bonding in a metal and in a salt is completely different.

Yes you can.
A metal ion in a metal surrounded by electrons and a metal ion in a molten salt surrounded by negative ions are quite similar.

Mercury is slightly soluble in water and in hexane , why wouldn't it dissolve in a molten salt?