Room temperature molten salts consisting of 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium chloride and aluminum chloride have been examined as possible electrolytes for a room temperature design of the sodium/iron(II) chloride battery. This work examines the conditions which provide the most efficient reduction and oxidation of sodium from a sodium chloride buffered, neutral melt. Most work was performed on a tungsten substrate using cyclic voltammetry. Melts were treated with gaseous HCl using a closed electrochemical cell which allowed for quantification of the effect of HCl on the electrochemical behavior of sodium in the molten salt. The HCl threshold partial pressure was less than 1 kPa for sodium plating. This result was complicated by the slow equilibrium between gaseous HCl and that dissolved in the molten salt; the effect of HCl addition was found to last for months, demonstrating the slow equilibrium. Small amounts of water contamination were found to produce a similar effect. At elevated temperatures the melt had higher conductivity, an order of magnitude higher current densities, and higher coulombic efficiency.