Note 1 — Chapter XI · THE HALOGENS: CHLORINE, BROMINE, IODINE, AND FLUORINE
George Kamensky translation
The decomposition of fused sodium chloride by an electric current has been proposed in America and Russia (N. N. Beketoff) as a means for the preparation of chlorine and sodium. A strong solution of hydrochloric acid is decomposed into equal volumes of chlorine and hydrogen by the action of an electric current. If sodium chloride and lead be melted in a crucible, the former being connected with the cathode and a carbon anode immersed in the lead, then the lead dissolves sodium and chlorine is disengaged as gas. This electrolytic method has not yet been practised on a large scale, probably because gaseous chlorine has not many applications, and because of the difficulty there is in dealing with it.