198 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATURAL [APRIL, ’89. 
acid solution. Some of the Xa was oxidized while a con¬ 
siderable amount would 
metallic state. 
Amperes. 
Exp. 1 . 3.2 
Exp. 2 . 2.5 
Exp. 3. 2.8 
Exp. 4. 2.8 
Exp. 5. 3.5 
Exp. 6 . 2. 
e found 
in the tube in 
the pure 
Time in 
Observed 
Theoretical 
Seconds. 
Amount Na. 
Amount Xa 
90 
.04 gms. 
.066 gms. 
480 
.14 
.286 
360 
.16 
.24 
300 
.17 
.20 
420 
.2 + 
.36 
480 
.13 
.22 
The loss can be accounted for from the escape of some 
of the volatilized Na into the air and from diffusion and 
recomposition with the liberated chlorine. The resistance 
measured by the method of substitution varied from one 
to 1.5 ohms, with an average of about 1.3. Four large 
chromic acid cells were used in series in much of the work. 
It thus seemed that, with suitable apparatus, from 5 to 
6 pounds of Na could be produced in 24 hours to one elec¬ 
trical horse power. Thus, if there were no practical diffi¬ 
culties in the construction of crucibles and other apparatus 
involved, nor in working continuously on a large scale 
with a raw material so cheap and pure as NaCl.the metal 
could be obtained at small cost and could be applied to 
the reduction of other difficultly reducible metals, including 
at very valuable metal Al. Various forms of crucibles 
were used and attempts made to distil the metal when 
formed at the negative electrode. Na volatilizes at near 
900 degrees C, and when obtained from the electrolysis of 
NaCk cames with it a large amount of vapor of NaCl, 
so that distillation is attended with some difficulties, 
mall specks of Al were also obtained by direct electrolysis 
small “ ' a ° d ° f AlaF ” 6 NaF, l'"t only a 
sma ! percentage of the theoretical yield could be obtained. 
' r ° f ‘ he PapCr ° f which the preceding 
the ' ha , Ve . g,V “ mor e particularly to 
dtree, electrolysis of salts of Al, using different i,I« 
