| This investigation involved the experimental study of molten salt solutions containing magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and calcium chloride--an electrolyte of importance in magnesium production. Emf measurements were made on an electrochemical formation cell with pure chlorine gas and magnesium-bismuth alloy electrodes. Good agreement was obtained with the existing data on the thermodynamic properties of pure MgCl(,2) and MgCl(,2) - NaCl binary melts. Nearly ideal (Raoultian) solution behaviour was observed in the binary MgCl(,2) - CaCl(,2) melts. Although the thermodynamic data in this system was different than the reported vapour pressure data it was found to be in accord with the reported phase diagram measurements. The properties of MgCl(,2) in the ternary melts were measured for the first time.;A multiple discrete complex anion (MDCA) model was proposed to correlate all thermodynamic findings in MgCl(,2) - NaCl - CaCl(,2) molten salt solutions. Successful interrelations were obtained when both MgCl(,4)('=) and CaCl(,4)('=) were assumed to coexist in a state of equilibrium with the elementary ions Cl('-), Na('+), Mg('2+) and Ca('2+). |
