I wanted to see if I could make AlCl3 using electrochemistryThis is what I did:I took aluminium foil and partially wrapped it around a copper wire (this essentially made 1 wire where one end was copper and the other was aluminium which I intended to use as electrodes)I then dipped the ends of the copper and aluminum parts (keep in mind they are connected) into a solution of salt water in a cupI expected AlCl3 would precipitate, and hydrogen gas would bubble based on the following standard reduction potentials:Al -gt; Al3+ + 3e- 1.66V2H2O + 2e- -gt; H2 + 2OH- -0.83VI expected electrons from the Al to flow to the copper to reduce hydrogen and have it bubble at the copperNothing happenedThen I thought it might be that AlCl3 would precipitate on the surface of the aluminium and essentially stop the reactionSo I placed the metals in vinegar but there was still no resultWouldn't this reaction be spontaneous? How come nothing happened?
if you have a good frying pan with lid that can go into the oven, use thatit's better than plastic and aluminumor if you don't have one of those, take a glass baking dish, put in all the ingredietns and cover tightly with 1 sheet of foilthis way you use less and the foil should not come into contact with the fishthere are some foods that when they come in contact with aluminum have a chemical reaction
Parchment paper on a cookie sheetJust have the fold on the bottom to keep it closedAnd make sure it's wrapped tight.
In place of the foil (which IS recyclable BTW), just use a lidded baking pan in it's placeYou know.something like a turkey roaster or similar, with a fitted lid and you'll be fineAll you're trying to accomplish is steaming the fish to retain moisture and texture.
The first problem was that your two electrodes were electrically connected togetherThe electrodes MUST be separated by an ion-transport medium, commonly called electrolyteThey can not be electrically connected and hence at the same electric potentialA potential difference must be developed between the electrodes to allow the electrochemistry to take place, by transfer of positive and negative ionsThe second problem is that aluminium foil makes a very poor electrode because it forms a layer of aluminium oxide over the surfaceYou would be better to use a piece of aluminium freshly cut from a larger sheet using a hacksaw (to give a rough oxide-free edge with high surface area)The third problem is, you havn't said where you are getting your Chloride ions from? An inorganic acid like dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) would be a better choice than an organic acid like vinegar (acetic acid) and would also be a source of chloride ions.
