What is the current passing between the electrodes?

Question

During electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution, a current flows through the solution. In a duration of 1.00 second, 2.68 x 10^16 sodium ions (Na+) migrate to the negative electrode, while 3.92 x 10^16 chloride ions (Cl-) move toward the positive electrode. 
A) Calculate the current in milliamperes (mA) based on the ion movement, expressing your answer to three significant figures.
B) What is the direction of the current? 
a. Away from the negative electrode 
b. Toward the negative electrode

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I don't know much about chemistry but it seems to me that the CL ions would have to be the majority carriers and they must be negative ions in order to move to the anode so i would say:

a.away from the negative electrode

Sorry i don't know how many mA that will be.

Part B's answer is B not A. currents typically run from the positive end to a negative end??

Is this in chemistry?

In electronics Electron flow is always from negative to positive. Opposites attract and likes repel.

Conventional current flow is different.

If this is simply an exercise from a book or test then I would say that there was an imbalance in the circuit of 1.24 *10^16 between the electrodes and you would have to determine the potential difference and the resistance of the circuit to find the current flow. Do you use Kirchoffs Laws in chemisrty?

1 Coulomb (Q) = 6.2E18

1 Amp = 1Q * second

1.24 E16 / 6.2E18 = 2.00mA per second

6.6E16/6.2E18 = 10.645161mA per second

Dr. Dee Baumbach DVM · Answer

I couldn't pass this one up. Solution of sodium chloride? You mean there is water involved? If so, then water molecules will be split apart, not NaCl. The salt will remain in solution until most of the water in gone. Also, current flow (electron flow) goes from negative to positive. That's why it is called the negative electrode, all those electrons are bunching up waiting to flow through the circuit. Hole flow goes from positive to negative.
If you were speaking of current passing through pure molten NaCl, then the number of Na ions would be identical to the number of Cl ions. Please rework your question.

Anonymous · Answer

It doesn't make any sense. If more Cl- ions flow one way than Na+ ions the other way, charge would rapidly build up in the cell and stop the reaction almost immediately.

Anonymous

What is the current passing between the electrodes?

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