On 2021-12-01 01:57, Robin wrote:
In an electrolytic cell both H and K will form at the cathode, though the K
will only be short lived because it combines
with water to form KOH & H.
However if a K atom and an H atom form in close proximity to one another at the
same time, then the possibility exists
that the K will catalyze a shrinkage reaction of the H (m=3), before it
combines with water.
To facilitate this process, the KOH should be a saturated solution, and the
cathode atoms as close together as possible.
This is interesting.
In a saturated KOH aqueous solution, if the voltage is high enough (you
shouldn't be afraid to use tens of volts if necessary) and the cathode
thin enough (in the form of wires), solid KOH will likely accumulate on
the cathode and start dissociating into K metal beneath it. When that
happens, it is possible to see small sparks and explosions as it reacts
with water and presumably hydrogen.
This is much simpler (and safer) to observe with potassium carbonate and
possibly bicarbonate, however. With KOH close to saturation, plasma
electrolysis starts occurring first; you have to add more KOH than
saturation at room temperature to make it accumulate when it is
operating. Unsafe and wasteful.
I think something similar to molten salt electrolysis starts occurring
under these conditions, with the difference that hydrogen from water
dissociation is also present (interesting for LENR?). The gallery linked
below shows short animations from tests with mainly K2CO3 and some
NaHCO3 (which seemed to make accumulation easier) at various
concentrations and conditions that I made months ago.
https://imgur.com/a/7OsftYm
Cheers, BA
