I'm using a steel nail and some NaCl for my electrolysis and it's creating a green or black powdery substance at the bottom of the container. At the top of course is the iron oxide. Does anyone know what this powder is?

Edit:Also would using about a tablespoon of salt create enough chlorine gas that I should stop it?

Do the equation, and the answers shall become apparent.

The thing is I don't know the exact composition in the nail. All I know is that there is iron in it.

you have a nail in salt water, and your running a current through it?

why?

yeah, i assume your just rusting the nail, and the stuff collecting is one of the many possible iron oxides.

if you want a proper answer you will have to do the chemistry or at least explain exactly what you were doing.

Possibly a copper salt?

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nope no copper in the nail. Probably just wet iron oxide I guess..

I submit: Ferrous chloride tetrahydrate

just guessing mind...

http://www.languangchem.com/pages/product-e1.htm

No copper in the nail, but what kind of wire is running current through the nail? hmm?

Electrolysis for what?

If you want electrodes that don't shed all the time, try clean carbon electrodes such as in carbon-zinc batteries in the center, and keep the connections out of the water ..

The easiest place to get intert electrodes in by skinning a pencil. ive used them a few times when its been too diffcult to get anything better.