Electrode processes and their kinetic parameters in the reduction and oxidation of Cr(III) and Cr(II) in molten CsCl

The reduction of chromium ions in the CsCl-CrCl3 melt in wide concentration and temperature ranges is reported. It is assumed that the melt contains polynuclear chromium complexes. The reduction of Cr(III) to Cr(II) is a reversible one-electron process. The electroreduction of divalent chromium to chromium metal is an irreversible process involving dinuclear and mononuclear chromium complex ions. The electron transfer rate constant has been calculated for various temperatures and chromium chloride concentrations in the salt melt. The activation energy of electron transfer and its dependence on the CrCl3 concentration in the electrolyte have been determined for the Cr(III) ↔ Cr(II) process.