Thread: electrolysis

Could electrolysis be used to actually remove ALL electrons from an ion, producing a bare proton?

Electrolysis is a method to separate bonded compounds/elements and not one for producing highly ionized atoms. Why could it not be used? Because:
1. Electrolysis always occur in solution (you need fluidity) and you need to have conductance both in the electrodes and the electrolyte.
2. The anode is positive, attracts negative ions; the catode is negative, attracts positive ions.

Imagine that we want to remove more electrons from ion sodium present in NaCl. When electrolysis occur Cl- will be attracted to the anode where it will be reduced to Cl2 (gas) and Na+ will be attracted to the catode and oxydized to Na (solid). If by chance some Na+ is produced it would be inmediately attracted to the cathode where it will be oxydized again.

Finally, if you remove all the electrons from an atom you get a nucleus.

Best regards,

César

oh yeah, duh... I should've thought about that more, sorry for asking such a stupid question.