Answer to Question #135968 in General Chemistry for Yensembam Krishna

Question

Discuss the role played of molten salt as non-aqueous solvent.

Answer 1

A molten salt is a liquid compound that has an ionic-covalent crystalline structure. Molten salts are in the recent past been utilized in various ways as solvents because of their properties that are superior to the conventional organic solvents. These properties include;

• They are liquids at a wider range of temperatures (-100oC to 400oC)
• They are lower in volatility and therefore have on odor
• They are stable in terms of heat, chemical or electrochemical
• There solvation environment is quite different from that in most organic solvents.

They are therefore useful in electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, electronic absorption spectra, organic synthesis, and for catalysts. Molten salts as non-aqueous solvents are prefered because they offer cleaner synthetic and extraction processes.

Dupont, J. (2011). From molten salts to ionic liquids: a “nano” journey. Accounts of chemical research, 44(11), 1223-1231.