Cleaning Electrodes
- trish armstrong
- Posts: 224
- Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 07:26
- Job Title: lab Assistant SAO
- School: Taree High School
- Suburb: Taree
- State/Location: NSW
Cleaning Electrodes
Hi everyone,
My electrodes are pretty bad at the moment, anyway, was starting to do the hard task with the steel wool etc when a new teacher suggested I soak them in nitric acid and rinse really well.
Has anyone done this before does it work or is not worth the time?
It would be great not to have to do all that scrubbing.
And does it take off copper plating.
Will experiment on some old ones and compare to replys.
Trish.
My electrodes are pretty bad at the moment, anyway, was starting to do the hard task with the steel wool etc when a new teacher suggested I soak them in nitric acid and rinse really well.
Has anyone done this before does it work or is not worth the time?
It would be great not to have to do all that scrubbing.
And does it take off copper plating.
Will experiment on some old ones and compare to replys.
Trish.
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
Hi trish,
what type of electrodes are they? Nitric will take off Cu coating.
I still find steel wool the best. I do it after each use and then is not such a hard task.
Lada
what type of electrodes are they? Nitric will take off Cu coating.
I still find steel wool the best. I do it after each use and then is not such a hard task.
Lada
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
Nitric Acid with Copper will give you an unpleasant surprise if I remember correctly. I think it is nitrous oxide that is produced. Not nice..................
Maree
Maree
- trish armstrong
- Posts: 224
- Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 07:26
- Job Title: lab Assistant SAO
- School: Taree High School
- Suburb: Taree
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
well I tried it though must admit didn't leave them in for more than 5min. Didn't do anything to the copper coating, the rusted ones cleaned up a little but not perfect.
Will have to torture the fingers with steel wool.
Thanks.
Any other ideas will be great to hear!
Trish.
Will have to torture the fingers with steel wool.
Thanks.
Any other ideas will be great to hear!
Trish.
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
I use conc Nitric in the fume cupboard. I have either a little beaker of it, or sometimes a dropper, and a BIG beaker of water to rinse. You can dip electrodes in the acid, then lift out and rinse, then repeat. The fume cupboard deals with the yukky Nitrous dioxide gas. It's actually really good for cleaning those little wire coils on calorimeters too. I use a dropper on them, and let the conc acid fizz off the copper. I keep dipping the coils in water,so that I don't dissolve the coil entirely. With patience you can have a nice shiny nichrome coil at the end, ready to go again.
Cheers, K
-
- Posts: 825
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
- Job Title: Lab Technician
- School: FCAC
- State/Location: QLD
Cleaning Electrodes
Everyone has a draw full of Rusty old electrodes .
The teachers complain every time they use them .
Here's an easy way to clean them which doesn't require much elbow grease .
Sprinkle about 1/8 teaspoon of Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) into a beaker of water .
Connect the Negative to the electrode you want cleaned. Then place a piece of old iron or steal in the beaker and connect it to Positive . I actually use two pieces of iron and place the electrode between them so it does both sides at once
Leave them in there for about 1/2 hour .
The beaker will look really scungy due to all the Rust that's being removed ......but that's OK
I usually do 3-4 before changing the solution
When you remove the electrode it will look all black .Give it a scrub under the tap with a scourer and thoroughly dry .
It works well for other Electrodes as well but be careful when scrubbing the lead ones to wear gloves .
Teachers are very happy and say experiments work as they should
The teachers complain every time they use them .
Here's an easy way to clean them which doesn't require much elbow grease .
Sprinkle about 1/8 teaspoon of Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) into a beaker of water .
Connect the Negative to the electrode you want cleaned. Then place a piece of old iron or steal in the beaker and connect it to Positive . I actually use two pieces of iron and place the electrode between them so it does both sides at once
Leave them in there for about 1/2 hour .
The beaker will look really scungy due to all the Rust that's being removed ......but that's OK
I usually do 3-4 before changing the solution
When you remove the electrode it will look all black .Give it a scrub under the tap with a scourer and thoroughly dry .
It works well for other Electrodes as well but be careful when scrubbing the lead ones to wear gloves .
Teachers are very happy and say experiments work as they should
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Re: Cleaning Electrodes
Thanks, Richard.
-
- Posts: 825
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
- Job Title: Lab Technician
- School: FCAC
- State/Location: QLD
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
Thanks J ....Haa you have to be the exception , IIRC your draw of electrodes are pretty good
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
Only because I had a clean out not long ago and bought some shiny new ones!
I have the old grungy, bent and dodgy ones stored away for various metal experiments. They come in handy sometimes.
I have the old grungy, bent and dodgy ones stored away for various metal experiments. They come in handy sometimes.
- trish armstrong
- Posts: 224
- Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 07:26
- Job Title: lab Assistant SAO
- School: Taree High School
- Suburb: Taree
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
Thankyou very much Bigmac for finally sharing. Gave this a try and worked fantastic.
Just greatful after 8 years I can stop sandpapering them.
Cheers Trish
Just greatful after 8 years I can stop sandpapering them.
Cheers Trish
Clean Pb from Cu electrodes
I've got some Cu electrodes that were left in a beaker of water with Pb electrodes over the break. I've cleaned them up pretty well with carborundum paper but they could really do with more, especially around the bolts. I know I read on here about an easier way to do it but I can't find that again. The bolts really need it and carborundum paper isn't going to work. Thanks!
- Labbie
- Posts: 3240
- Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
- Job Title: Retired
- Suburb: At Home
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
There are some very good tips in this thread, Nat, good luck
Regards Labbie
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
- Labbie
- Posts: 3240
- Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
- Job Title: Retired
- Suburb: At Home
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Cleaning Electrodes
You are most wwelcome
Regards Labbie
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired