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Understanding Electrolysis and Conductors

This document discusses electrolysis and electrolytic cells. [1] Electrolysis is the decomposition of an ionic compound using electricity. An electrolytic cell contains an electrolyte, which is the ionic substance to be electrolyzed, as well as electrodes and a power supply. [2] During electrolysis, ions move to the electrode of opposite charge. Metals form at the cathode, while non-metals form at the anode. The reactivity series determines which substances are discharged from solution. [3] Aqueous electrolysis involves an ionic compound dissolved in water. Either hydrogen gas or a metal forms at the cathode, while oxygen or a halogen forms at the anode, depending on conditions.

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Ohi Ahmed
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Metal formation,
  • Electrodes,
  • Anode,
  • Conductors,
  • Electrolysis of salts,
  • Electrolysis of magnesium chlo…,
  • Reactivity series,
  • Concentrated solution,
  • Power supply,
  • Ion movement
46 views4 pages

Understanding Electrolysis and Conductors

This document discusses electrolysis and electrolytic cells. [1] Electrolysis is the decomposition of an ionic compound using electricity. An electrolytic cell contains an electrolyte, which is the ionic substance to be electrolyzed, as well as electrodes and a power supply. [2] During electrolysis, ions move to the electrode of opposite charge. Metals form at the cathode, while non-metals form at the anode. The reactivity series determines which substances are discharged from solution. [3] Aqueous electrolysis involves an ionic compound dissolved in water. Either hydrogen gas or a metal forms at the cathode, while oxygen or a halogen forms at the anode, depending on conditions.

Uploaded by

Ohi Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Metal formation,
  • Electrodes,
  • Anode,
  • Conductors,
  • Electrolysis of salts,
  • Electrolysis of magnesium chlo…,
  • Reactivity series,
  • Concentrated solution,
  • Power supply,
  • Ion movement

Chapter: 8

Electrolysis
Conductors
They are substances which conduct electricity.
Insulators
They are substances which do not conduct electricity.
 The only substances that conduct electricity are the metals and graphite.
These conduct because of their free electrons. The electrons get pumped
out of one end of the solid by the battery, while more electrons flow in the
other end. For the same reason, molten metals conduct.
 Molecular substances are non conductors. This is because they contain no
free electrons or other charged particles, that flow through them. Ethanol is
made up of molecules, so is petrol, sugar, paraffin, sulphur and plastic.
These never conduct whether solid or molten.
 Ionic substances do not conduct when solid but they do conduct when
melted or dissolved in water and they decompose at the same time.
 An ionic substance contains no free electrons but it does contain ions which
have a charge. The ions become free to move when the substance is melted
or dissolved and it is they that conduct electricity. Lead bromide is ionic. It
does not conduct when solid, but conducts when it melts. The brown
vapour that forms is bromine. electricity has caused the lead bromide to
decompose.
Electrolysis is the decomposition of an ionic compound using electricity.
Parts of electrolytic cell
1. Power supply- D.C
2. Electrolyte- The ionic substance to be electrolyzed.
 Molten
 Aqueous- concentrated (solute>solvent)
 Aqueous- dilute (solvent>solute)
3. Electrodes
 cathode (negative rod)- cation
 anode (positive rod)- anion

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Electrolysis of Molten Lead bromide

1. Electrons flow from the negative terminal of the battery to the cathode.
2. In the liquid, the ions move to the electrode of opposite charges.
3. At the cathode (-), Pb2+¿ ¿ ions accept electrons. Lead begins to appear below
the cathode.
4. At the anode (+), the Br−¿¿ ions give up electrons. Red-brown bromine
vapour bubbles off.
5. Electrons flow from the anode to the positive terminal of the battery.

Reactivity Series (cation)

 K
 Na More reactive a metal, more is its tendency
 Li to remain as an ion/does not get discharged
 Ca + ¿¿

 Mg Ex: K +¿ Na ¿

 Al +¿¿
Na will get discharged since it is less
 C reactive.
 Zn
 Fe
 Pb
 H
 Cu
 Aq
 Au

2|Page
Discharge series
2−¿ ¿
 SO 4 Easily discharged
−¿¿
 NO 3
−¿¿ −¿¿ −¿¿
 Cl
−¿¿ Ex: OH and I ,I will be discharged.
 OH −¿¿
−¿¿
 Br
−¿¿
 I

At the
Metal
Molten cathode
Electrolyte At the
Non metal
anode

Aqueous Electrolysis

1. At the cathode
 High in reactivity than H +¿¿ : H₂ formed
 Lower in reactivity than H +¿¿ : metal formed
2. At the anode
 Halide present: Concentrated-Halogen, Dilute- oxygen formed
 Halide not present: Oxygen formed

Aqueous= Ionic compound+ water

Rules

1. At the cathode (-), either a metal or hydrogen forms


a. The more reactive an element, the more it 'likes' to exist as ions.
So if a metal is more reactive than hydrogen, its ions stay in
solution and hydrogen bubbles off.
b. But if the metals is less reactive than hydrogen, the metal forms.
2. At the anode (+), a non-metal other than hydrogen forms

3|Page
a. If it is a concentrated solution of a halide, then chlorine, bromine
or iodine forms.
b. But is the halide solution is dilute, or there is no halide, oxygen is
formed.

Steps of writing equation

1. First, name of ions present and the products.


2. Write each half equation correctly.
 Give the ion its correct charge.
 Remember, positive ions go to the cathode and negative ions in
the anode.
 Write the correct symbol for the element that forms for example,
Cl₂ for chlorine.
 The number of electrons in the equation should be the same as
the total charge on the ions in it.
3. You could then add the state symbol.

Example using electrolysis of molten Magnesium Chloride

Magnesium ions and chloride ions are present. Magnesium and chlorine form.

Ions: Mg 2+¿¿ and Cl−¿¿


−¿¿

At the cathode: Mg 2+¿+2 e ¿


Mg

At the anode: 2 Cl−¿¿ Cl₂ +2 e−¿¿ (two Cl−¿¿ ions. So a total charge of 2-)

2 Cl−¿¿- 2 e−¿¿ Cl₂


−¿¿

Mg
2+¿(l)+2 e ¿
Mg(l)

2 Cl−¿ (l )¿ Cl₂(g) +2 e−¿¿

4|Page

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