ELECTROLYSIS NOTES
* Electrolysis is the breakdown of a substance in its aqueous phase or fused state into its
constituent elements on passage of electricity
*Electricity is conducted due to transport of Charged particles like electrons,ions
*Conductors are Substances that conduct electricity due to movement of free electrons
Ex metals,graphite,metallic alloys
Characteristics of conductors
1)They conduct electricity in solid or liquid state
2)There is no change in composition of the substance .Thus conduction of electricity by a
conductor isa physical changes
3)They conduct electricity due to free electrons
*Insulators do not conduct electricity due to absence of free electrons
Example Diamond ,PVC,poly chloro ethane,Sulfur,iodine
*Electrolytes are ionic compounds that will conduct electricity in molten state or aqueous state
*Certain covalent compounds like HCl also conduct electricity when dissolved in water due to
free ions
*Electrolytes conducts electricity due to free ions
*Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in solid state as the ions are held tightly by strong
electrostatic forces of [Link] in molten state and when dissolved in water the force
of attraction between ions weakens and free ions are generated that help in conduction of
electricity.
*Non electrolyte are liquids or solutions that do not conduct electricity due to lack of free ions
*The process of electrolysis is carried out in a electrolytic cell
*A electrolytic consists of :
Electrolytic vessel:It is a container in which the process of electrolysis is carried [Link] is made of
a non conducting material like glass,plastic,wood etc
Electrodes:The substances or points where the electric current enters or leaves battery or
electrolytic cell
The electrode attached to the positive terminal of the battery is the Anode .It is positively
charged hence negatively charged ions ie the anions migrate to the anode
The anions lose electrons undergo oxidation at the anode to form neutral atoms
Eg Cl ¹⁻ → Cl + e⁻
Cl + Cl→ Cl₂
Overall reaction
2Cl⁻ → Cl₂ + 2 e⁻
The electrode attached to the negative terminal of the battery is the [Link] is the negatively
charged hence the positively charged ions ie the cations migrate to the cathode .The cations
gain electrons undergo Reduction at the cathode to form neutral atoms
Eg Pb²⁺ + 2 e⁻ → Pb
Principles of electrolysis
1)The anode is the positive electrode and the cathode is the negative electrode
2)The anions migrate to the anode and cations migrate to the cathode
3)All metals and hydrogen form cations and migrate to the cathode .They get neutralized by
gaining [Link] takes place at the cathode
4)All non metals form anions and migrate to the anode .They get neutralized by losing
[Link] takes place at the anode
5)The no of electrons lost at the anode is equal to the number of electrons gained at the
cathode
6)Inside the electrolytic cell the conduction of electricity is due to migration of ions and in the
external circuit the conduction of electricity is due movement of free electrons from the anode
to the cathode.
Characteristics of Electrolytic conductivity
1)It is due to flow of free ions
2)It is property of ionic compounds
3)It takes place in liquids and solutions and not in solids
4)the electrolyte undergoes decomposition hence electrolytic conductivity is a chemical change
*When There are two or more anions or cations present in the solution only one anion and only
one cation will get discharged. the preferential discharge of the ions depends on
1) position of the ion in the electrochemical series
For cations the order of discharge is
Ag⁺ , Cu⁺² ,H⁺ , Zn²⁺ ,Al³⁺ ,Mg²⁺ ,Na⁺
For anions the order of discharge is
I⁻ , Br⁻ , Cl⁻ ,OH⁻ ,NO₃¹⁻ ,SO₄²⁻
2)Nature of the electrode
there are two types of electrodes depending upon whether the electrode takes part in the
electrochemical reaction
a) active electrode- it is an electrode which takes part in the electrochemical reaction that is
itself loses electrons undergoes oxidation to form positive ions
Eg copper, Nickel, silver
b)Inert electrode- it is an electrode which does not take part in the electrochemical reaction
Example Platinum, iron, graphite
*Electroplating
it is a process of depositing a superior metal over a base metal in order to make the article
more attractive, corrosion-resistant and economical
Principles of electroplating
a)The article to be electroplated is always placed at the cathode since the metal ions that is the
cations migrate to the cathode undergo reduction and get deposited as neutral metallic atoms
on the cathode
b) the anode is an active electrode which is made up of the metal which has to be plated for
example in silver plating of an article the anode is is a bar of silver
c) the electrolyte contains one of the ions of the metal which has to be electroplated example in
electroplating of an article with silver the electrolyte should contain silver ions thus a silver salt
like sodium argentocyanide solution or silver nitrate is used
d) a low intensity current is used to ensure smooth deposit shall of the metal.
* hydrogen fuel cell is a source of energy in which chemical energy is converted to electrical
energy
advantages are
it operates continuously with no need of recharge
large amount of energy is released
the end product water is is harmless
hydrogen is a non polluting fuel
it is a renewable form of energy
non toxic and zero carbon dioxide emissions
these Motors are more efficient
disadvantages
Difficulty in storage and production
non renewable if nuclear energy is used
large fuel tank is required
redesigning of engine is essential thus it is expensive
very few filling stations are available
