An iron mesh screen is a necessary part of the Down’s cell - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 16 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 16
An iron mesh screen is a necessary part of the Down’s cell.
The primary role of the screen is to:
A. allow electric current to flow from the anode compartment to the... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:An iron mesh screen is a necessary part of the Down’s cell - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 16 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
C. prevent the chlorine and sodium from coming into contact and thereby exploding.
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Answer
The iron mesh screen in a Down's cell primarily serves to prevent the chlorine and sodium ions from coming into direct contact with one another. This is crucial because if these two substances were to mix, they could react violently, resulting in an explosion. Therefore, the effective separation provided by the iron mesh screen is essential for safe and efficient operation of the cell.