0 ratings0% found this document useful (0 votes) 104 views13 pagesChapter 10 (Electrolysis)
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aR A
TCU RCE cS Ua cL Us sodium chloride, dilute sulfuric acid and copper(|l)
te) sulfate) and to predict the products.
Understand why ionic compounds conduct electricity CC nie eee ean uke
COUN oy at the electrodes during electrolysis and understand
DREMEL OE RO CRU ORCC PT RUSS ES SC
Dee meee moo
Describe experiments to investigate electrolysis, using Practica: Investigate the electrolysis of aqueous
cae Mme Ce) earn
eee eM CUO Cae PCE
WHY THINGS CONDUCT ELECTRICITY
Before we continue, we need to remind ourselves about why things do or don't
conduct electricity. In order for things to conduct electricity, there must be
charged particles present and these charged particles must be free to move.
The charged particles will be either electrons or ions; itis important that you
are clear which one you are talking about.
It you remember, the structure of a metal is made up of a lattice of positive
ions surrounded by a sea of delocalised electrons. Metals conduct electricity
because the delocalised electrons are free to move. Teen eteasd Praca
Kx Retin These are compounds such as sodium chloride and potassium iodide. tonic
‘compounds don't conduct electricity when they are solid because the ions are
held tightly in position in the lattice — they are not free to move around (they
can only vibrate). They do, however, conduct electricity when they are molten
{have melted) or if they are dissolved in water (in aqueous solution). This
happens because the ions then become free to move around.
Remember that ionic compounds are made up of positive ions and negative
ions:
‘= anions are negative ions
'= cations are positive ions.
We will ook at where these names come from later in the chapter.
Ei bai Covalent molecular compounds are substances such as hexane (CeH,,),
‘methane (CH,) and carbon dioxide (CO,). These do not conduct electricity in
any state or in solution. Covalent molecular compounds consist of individual
molecules. These molecules don't have any overall electrical charge, so there
are no charged particles to move around. Also, all the electrons are held tightly
in the atoms or in covalent bonds and so they are not able to move from
molecule to molecule.
‘There are some exceptions to this, such as covalent compounds that form ions
The arcow here shave Fat TSG! as they react with water, for example ammonia
2 reversible reaction, Reversible NHs(g) + H,O() —= NH,*(aq) + OH-(aq)
reactions are discussed in Chapter 21.
Ammonia solution conducts electricity because there are ions which are free to
move.
Hydrogen chloride gas dissolves in water to form hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)).
Hydrogen chloride ionises in water:
HCi(aq) > H*(aq) + Crtaq)
PSST AST Me Re Cl SaaS aS)
When metals conduct electricity you will not notice anything happening,
except perhaps that the metal gets hotter. When you pass electricity through,
an ionic compound, either molten or in solution, a chemical reaction occurs.
Electrolysis is a chemical change caused by passing an electric current
through a compound which is either molten or in solution.
| Some OTHER mpoRTANT woRDS lic An electrolyte is a liquid or solution that undergoes electrolysis. Electrolytes
all contain fons. The movement of the ions is responsible for both the
‘conduction of electricity and the chemical changes that take place.
‘The electricity is passed into and out of the electrolyte through two
electrodes. Carbon Is frequently used for electrodes because it conducts
electricity and is chemically fairly inert (this means that it does not react with
things). Platinum is also fairly inert and can be used instead of carbon. Various
iy other metals are sometimes used as well
Remember PANIC: positive anode, The positive electrode is called the anode. The negative electrode is called the
negative (i) cathode. cathode. Pescara reat
Mae aes Cty
Progen ael 1 power supply
EOE -@ ov
carbon: but
electrodes
crucible molten lead)
bromide
ae {tho electoyte)
Te power sup can be 6 vot baty t
oa power pack. 'doesn't matter which. heat
ts ne irre ea © Figure 10.2 Electrolysing molten leadi!!) bromide
Nothing at all happens unti the lead) bromide melts. Then:
oo ® the bulb lights up, showing that electrons are flowing through it
anode: Bree
103 [ome
‘A bromine atom has only 7 electrons
inits outer shell so it joins to another
Br atom to form a covalent bond. Both
atoms then have 8 electrons in their
outer shel
(om
{tis realy important to use the correct
terms when talking about the reactions
at the electrodes. Bromide ions are
attracted to the anode, where they lose
electrons to form bromine molecules.
Do not confuse bromide and bromine
(om
‘The extemal circutis the wire, power
pack, the bulb and the electrodes.
Electrons flow in the external circuit
but fons flow in the electrolyte,
[
OILAIG:
Oxidation
Is
Loss of electrons
Reduction
Is
Gain of electrons
ELECTROLYSI
‘These join in pairs to make bromine molecules:
2Br > Bre
Overall
2Br- > Bry + 2"
neutal atoms oin
together to make
bromine molecules
oS
attracted to
pesitve electrode
_— dlectrons transfer
from the bromide
lone to the electrode
“A Figure 105 The reaction at the anode
The new electrons on the electrode flow back into the power source. Because
electrons are flowing in the external circuit, the bulb lights up.
We sometimes talk about ions being discharged at the electrodes.
Discharging an ion means that it loses its charge. This happens either by giving
up electron(s) to the electrode or receiving electron(s) from it. We can therefore
say that bromide ions and lead(l) ions were discharged at the electrodes.
Pee isl 4
You will learn more about oxidation and reduction reactions in Chapter 14.
‘Oxidation and reduction are words used to describe what is happening to things.
in certain chemical reactions. We can define oxidation and reduction as follows:
= Oxidation occurs when something loses electrons.
= Reduction occurs when something gains electrons.
We usually simply shorten this to oxidation is loss of electrons and reduction is
gain of electrons. A way of remembering this is the mnemonic OILRIG.
I we look again at the electrode equations in the electrolysis of lead(l)
bromide, we see that the lead) ions gain electrons at the cathode:
Pbe +26" > Pb
Gain of electrons is reduction. The lead(l) ions are reduced to lead atoms.
‘The bromide ions lose electrons at the anode:
2Br- > Br, +26
Loss of electrons is oxidation. Bromide ions are oxidised to bromine
molecules.
If something loses electrons something else must gain electrons and so
oxidation and reduction always occur at the same time: we talk about redox
reactions, red(uction)ox(dation). In the reactions going on at the electrodes
each equation only shows one of the processes occurring, either oxidation or
reduction, and so we call these haif-equations. Both these reactions involve
ions and so, in the exam, you may be asked to write ionic half-equations
representing the reactions at the electrodes. Ptesud sg Benoa
105
“fuelled led If we carry out electrolysis of molten sodium chloride,
fe get sodium at the
online cathode (negative electrode) and chlorine at the anode (positive electrode)
‘The ionic haif-equations are:
cathode: Nat +e"—+ Na reduction
Sodium ions are reduced to sodium atoms.
anode: 20+ Ch +2" oxidation
Chloride ions are oxidised to chlorine molecules.
‘These hall-equations must always balance in terms of the number of atoms on
each side, but also in terms of the charges; the total charge must be the same
on both sides. This is why we need 2 electrons in the second half-equation but
only 1 in the first.
Let us look at another example, the electrolysis of molten aluminium oxide
(A,0,). We get aluminium at the cathode and oxygen at the anode. Aluminium
isin Group 3 in the Periodic Table and so an aluminium atom has 3 electrons
ints outer shell. You may remember from Chapter 7 that this means that
A\ forms a 3+ ion. This 3+ ion will be attracted to the negative electrode in
electrolysis and we will got the reaction:
AB* + Se" Al
In order to cancel out the 3+ charge on the Al* ion we need to add 3
electrons. The total charge on the left-hand side is zero (3+ + 3-), which is
the same as on the right-hand side. Another way to think about this is that if
an aluminium atom loses 3 electrons to form an A\l* ion, we must put those
‘electrons back in order to form the atom again. This is a reduction reaction
because the Al ion gains electrons.
When we electrolyse molten aluminium oxide, the half-equation for the reaction
at the anode is
20% + 0, + der
Each 02- ion has 2 ‘extra’ electrons and oxygen atoms go around in pairs, so
Pa coaien naka el we must remove 4 electrons to form Q;. These are shown on the right-hand
sactons cathe wrongaide ofthe ha. sid of the half-equation. There are two Os on each side and the total charge
Gquation, Check the charges to make orveach side is 4-. This is an oxidation reaction.
pe eve He sean Sota) onion ‘When molten zinc(I!) chloride is electrolysed, zinc is obtained at the cathode
anon sie and chlorine at the anode:
cathode: Zn’*+2e-- Zn reduction
anode: 2Cl+ Cl, +2e" oxidation
We can make the following generalisations from the reactions above:
= If you electrolyse a molten ionic compound only containing two elements,
you will get the metal at the cathode (because metals form positive ions)
and the non-metal at the anode (because non-metals form negative ions).
(EE) "ection atways occurs atthe cathode and oxidation always occurs at the
‘A way of remembering this is AN OX coe
RED CAT or AN OILRIG CAT. ‘You can probably see now that positive ions are known as cations because
they are attracted to the cathode (negative electrode). Negative ions are known
as anions because they are attracted to the anode (positive electrode). Sed ae
ease any
eis
Safety Note: Wear eye protection. Do
rot smell the chlorine, especially if you
have asthma. Once chlorine is detected
the current must be switched off
a
‘We would expect to get the same
‘volume of hydrogen as chlorine.
However, in reality we appear to obtain
less chlorine than expected because it
is more soluble in water.
ETc)
Not all ionic compounds can be electrolysed when they are molten. Some
break up into simpler substances before their melting point. For example,
‘copper() carbonate breaks into copper} oxide and carbon dioxide, even on
gentle heating. It is impossible to met it.
When aqueous solutions are electrolysed the products are not always the
‘same as when molten salts are electrolysed,
yaaa
BHU SU ea Ug
CSRS
We can investigate the electrolysis of an aqueous solution such as
sodium chloride solution using the apparatus shown in Figure 10.6.
o=Cc—o
o=c=
o=c=
o—c—
ooo°o
‘4 Figure 10.6 Electrolysis of sodium chloride solution
The following procedure is used:
| Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 10.6. The ass tube, rubber
| bung and electrodes together are sometimes called an electrolytic cell,
® Pour concentrated sodium chloride solution into the glass tube.
'= Place a test-tube containing sodium chloride solution over each |
electrode. The test-tubes must not completely cover the electrodes or
ions will be unable to flow and there will be no current. |
= Connect the battery/powerpack to the electrodes.
= The experiment should be done in a fume cupboard (fume hood) or
well-ventilated room because chlorine gas is poisonous.
We can see if something is happening by looking for bubbles of gas or a
‘metal forming at the electrodes. Any gases can be tested.
‘The tests for gases are covered in Chapter 18.
In this experiment we see bubbles of gas at both electrodes. When the
gases are tested we find that hydrogen forms at the negative electrode
(cathode) and chlorine forms at the positive electrade (anode). nesta
‘The reversible sign shows that as
water molecules break up to form
hydrogen ions and hydexide ions,
these fons are recombining to make
water again.
ano
KEY POINT
‘The more reactive something Is, the
greater tendency it has to form an ion.
This means that the more reactive
something is, the more dificult itis to
tum it back into an atom. For positive
ions, the lower the position of an
clement in the reactivity series, the
‘more easly it will accept an electron.
The reactivity series is discussed in
Chapter 14,
Because the hydrogen ions are
cischarged (moved from the solution
as hydrogen gas), they can no longer
react with the hydroxide ions and
reform water. The ionisation ofthe
water becomes a one-way process.
You might come across either half-
‘equation in the exam. Either should be
accepted in answers.
Eau
Be ae ee ee eS R ely
When molten sodium chloride is electrolysed, the products at the electrodes,
are:
anode:
cathode: sodium
When you electrolyse sodium chloride solution you do not get the same
products as when you electrolyse molten sodium chloride. Although chlorine
is stil formed at the anode, hydrogen is produced at the cathode rather than
‘sodium. The hydrogen at the cathode comes from the water.
Water is called a weak electrolyte. It ionises very slightly to give hydrogen ions
and hydroxide ions:
H,0() = Hi(aq) + OH (eq)
‘Whenever you have water present, you have to consider these ions as well as,
the ions in the compound you are electrolysing,
chlorine
‘The solution contains Na*(aq) and H*(aq), and these are both attracted to
the negative electrode (cathode). However, sodium is a very reactive metal.
This means that itis very difficult to add an electron to a sodium ion to
convert it back to a sodium atom. Hydrogen is less reactive than sodium so
it is easier to add an electron to a hydrogen ion to form a hydrogen atom.
Each hydrogen atom formed combines with another one to make a hydrogen
molecule:
2H) + 26° > Hel)
Remember that the hydrogen ions come from water molecules splitting up.
Each time a water molecule ionises, it also produces a hydroxide ion. There is.
‘a build-up of these in the solution around the cathode. These hydroxide ions
‘make the solution alkaline in the region around the cathode.
{scm
H,0() ———> H"(aq) + OH"(aq)
‘4 Figure 10.7 The process of electraysing solutions
There is an alternative way of looking at this cathode reaction, starting from
neutral water molecules, which can be thought of as taking electrons directly
from the cathode:
2H,O() + 26° -> He(g) + 20H-(aq)
You can see more easily why the solution becomes alkaline using this half-
‘equation as OH"(aq) ions are produced. Reman egecaery reac
[ arremnone baal CH(aq) and OH(aq) are both attracted by the positive anode, It is slightly
‘easier to remove electrons from (oxidise) the hydroxide ion than from the
chloride ion, but there isn’t much difference. There are, however, many, many
It the sodium chloride solution is dilute, More chloride ions present in the solution, and so it is mainly these that are
you get noticeable amounts of oxygen’ oxidised at the anode:
Ce artis natn Coote 2CHaq) + Cl,(a) + 2e"
401 (aq) ~+ 2H,0() + 044g) + 4e-
itis unlikely that you will be asked
about this at Intemational GCSE.
THE REMAINING SOLUTION If the electrolysis is carried on for a long time, we can work out what the final
solution remaining at the end will be. The ions in the solution were:
fromNaCk Nat Gt
fromH,O: He on
Cl and Ht ions were removed from the solution by being discharged at the
electrodes, so we are left with Na* and OH, sodium hydroxide solution.
MAMA teed es RUM eR RS Te)
Uses a Se sy
‘The copper) ions and hydrogen ions {from the water) will be attracted to the
cathode. Copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series, which means that it
bubbles 1S easier to add electrons to copper ions to form an atom. The cathode will get
etoxygen coated with pink-brown copper:
copper formed
copper) CuF*(aq) +26" Culs) reduction
carbon sae, Sulfate ions and hydroxide ions (from the water) will be attracted to the anode.
slecvodes Sulfate ions aren't easy to oxidise Instead, you get oxygen from the oxidation
Of hydroxide ions from the water:
o® 40H (aq) + 2H,0() + O(a) + 40° oxidation
* Figur 10.8 Geis of copper sulte There is an alternative way of looking at this anode reaction. The equation this
soliton signe lecodes prices copper ye.
at the cathode and cxygen gs at the anode.
2H,0() > O,(g) + 4H*(aq) + 4e~
You can see more easily why the solution becomes acidic using this half-
equation: H'(aq) ions are produced. You may come across either half-equation
inthe exam,
If the electrolysis is continued for a long time the coppertl) ions will eventually
all be used up, and so the colour of the solution will fade from blue to
colourless. What is left in the solution? The ions originally present were:
‘The reason that we keep stressing the from CuSO, Ge*¥ SO,
TEECSERTE SS temuates Hon
Serer rer ores
affect the products you get. If you use Copper ions and hydroxide ions are discharged at the electrodes. Hydrogen
Sree mace vale alse, Corn the wae wel doshas eed nlite are Soa tore.
seueeritiamctaena' nak Theaaonsra rms cums cturtsocs pissoy. me sectonees unten
anode gets smaller. continue as for dilute sulfuric acid (see below). Cte Ua Sag
cute sutrc
cis
oxygen
men
hydrogen
platinum
ectrodes
@| 1S
1G power supply
‘4 Figure 10.9 Apparatus for electrolysing date
sulfuric acid and measuring the volume of
gases produced
iD You kNow?
‘This experiment could be used
to show that the formula of
water is H,0.
eee
a)
Sm
This leaves the problem of what
you obtain if you have a moderately
reactive metal such as zinc, for
‘example. Reasonably concentrated
solutions will give you the metal. Very
dilute solutions will give you mainly
hydrogen. In between, you will got
both, At International GCSE you
probably won't have to worry about
this. The examples you will see in
‘exams are always clear.
Eteach
AeA AO eR Ten eS Ten Sag
PaaS
In this case, the only positive ions arriving at the cathode are hydrogen ions,
(from the acid and the water). These are discharged to give hydrogen gas:
2H*(aq) + 26° > Hola)
At the anode ~ as with copperil) sulfate solution ~ sulfate ions and hydroxide
ions (rom the water) arrive. The sulfate ions are too difficult to oxidise, and so
you obtain oxygen from the oxidation of hydroxide ions from the water:
40H-{aq) + 2H,0() + Ox(9) + 46
Twice as much hydrogen is produced as oxygen. Look at the half-equations
above. For every 4 electrons that flow around the circuit, you would get 1
molecule of oxygen. But 4 electrons would produce 2 molecules of hydrogen.
You get twice the number of molecules of hydrogen as of oxygen. Twice the
‘number of molecules occupy twice the volume.
Actually, when we do this experiment the amount of hydrogen we obtain is
‘more than twice as much as the oxygen. This is because oxygen is more
soluble in water than hydrogen. What we sometimes do to stop this happening
is to carry out the electrolysis experiment for a few minutes first in order to
saturate the water with oxygen and then start to collect the gases; this gives
‘much better results.
Bua Gm Tt
mS)
ME OTHER SOLUTIONS USING INERT
If the metal is high in the reactivity
series, you get hydrogen produced
at the cathode instead of the metal.
'= Ifthe metal is below hydrogen in
the reactivity series, you obtain the
‘metal at the cathode.
'= If you have solutions of halides
(chlorides, bromides or iodides),
you obtain the halogen (chlorine,
bromine or iodine) at the anode.
(bydrogen)
With other common negative ions copper
(sulfate, nitrate, hydroxide), you silver
‘obtain oxygen at the anode. aoa
4 Figure 10.10 The reactivity series shows
‘metals in rder of how reactive thy are
‘rom most reactive to least reactive. This
{is discussed mor in Chapter 14
109 ROM eta Eta i i
‘The table shows some simple examples of these rules.
Table 10.1 Te electrolysis of solutions using inert carbon or platinum) electrodes
[ro | se [| mr
‘Kaq) hydrogen 2H*(aq) + 2e--+ H,(g) iodine 2+ (aq) + Lag) + 2e-
MgBr,faq) hydrogen 2H+(aq) + 2e-—» H{g) bromine 2Br-(aq) + Br.{aq) + 2e-
H,SO,(aq) hydrogen 2H*(aq) + 2e--+ Hg) oxygen 40H-(aq) + 2H,0(l) + 049) + 4e~
{GuS0,(aq) copper Cuan) + 2e~—» Cu(s) oxygen 40H (aq) ~ 24,019 + Oa) + Aer
Peas
bie For electrolysis to work, there have to be ions present. The current in the
Joti DML external circuit (with the bulb and power source) can flow only if there are ions
which can move and be discharged.
If you tried to electrolyse a covalent compound (either molten or in solution),
there wouldn't be a current flow because there aren't any ions. Nothing else
would happen either. Sugar, for example, is a non-electrolyte; it doesn't
Undergo electrolysis. It won't conduct electricity, and won't be decomposed
by it, ether in solution or when molten,
‘There are exceptions to this: covalent _ Simple experiments like those described in this chapter give you an easy way
‘compounds that are electrolytes in of finding out whether a substance is jonic or not. If it undergoes electrolysis,
‘solution. These include acids and either molten or in solution, it must contain ions. If it doesn't undergo.
‘ammonia solution,
electrolysis, it doesn’t contain ions.
Safety Note: Wear eye protection. Do eS
not smell the chlorine, especialy if you
ties §W PRACTICAL: QUANTITATIVE ELECTROLYSIS
the current must be switched off.
Quantitative means related to numbers. We can investigate how much
ee: eto product we get in an electrolysis experiment. We could, for example,
investigate the effect of changing the current on the amount of hydrogen
produced at the cathode in the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution, To do
this we would use similar apparatus to that in Figure 10.6, but we would also
have to put a variable resistor and an ammeter into the circuit to allow us to
vary and measure the current. We would also have to use a gas burette or
measuring cylinder to measure the volume of gas produced. We would
Use the following procedure:
\® Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 10.11.
‘= Pour 50cm? of concentrated sodium chioride solution into the glass
tube.
= Place a gas buratte (or measuring cylinder) filled with sodium chloride
solution over the cathode,
variable"
ammeter
resistor battery
‘= Turn on the powerpack/connect the battery and set the current to 0.2
using the variable resistor.
‘4 Figure 10.11 We can use this apparatus fora
‘quantitative electrolysis experiment Cnr eesn at)
Eteach
‘= Take an initial reading on the gas burette. (We have to start the current
flowing so that we can see what the current is, therefore we only take a
reading on the gas burette after we have turned on the power.)
'= Start the timer.
'= Stop the timer after 5 minutes and note the final reading on the gas
burette,
‘= Repeat for currents of 0.4A, 0.6A, 0.8A and 1.04.
‘= Repeat each experiment to get more reliable results.
A set of results for this experiment could be:
Vole of dene gs rdceom
020 10
040 139
60 151
80 230
10 349
We can plot this data on a graph (Figure 10.12).
Electrolysis of sodium chloride solution
404 -
volume of hydrogen fem?
0 02 of of o8 1 12
current /A
4 Figure 10.12 How changing the current affects the volume of hydrogen produced atthe
cathode,
Because the current is continuous data, we draw a line of best fit through
the points. The reading at 0.6 is an anomalous point and we do not
include this when drawing our line of best fit. The reading at 0.6A is too
low and could have occurred because the current that we used was too
low or some gas escaped.
The line of best fit isa straight line that goes through the origin and
's0 we can say that we have a proportional relationship: the volume of
{gas produced is directly proportional to the current passed through the
solution.
a De ag Crea nay
i Oey
aor
SKILLS
SKILLS
Kil
eAsONNG
PROBLEM SOLVING
REASONING
‘RITICAL KG
°
1 State what is formed at the cathode and at the anode during the electrolysis
of the following substances. Assume that carbon electrodes were used
each time.
8 Molten lead) bromide
b Molten zinc chloride
© Sodium iodide solution
«Molten sodium iodide
‘© Coppertl) chloride solution
{Dilute hydrochioric acid
‘9 Magnesium sulfate solution
bh Sodium hydroxide solution
2 Copy and complete the following half-equations for reaction at the anode or
cathode, and state whether each involves oxidation or reduction. Electrons
hhave been put in for the first four but not for the ones after that.
8 Mgt +e" Mg
b AM +e Al
© 2Br- + Bry +e
d OF 4 Op +e
© Cr+ Ch
1 NES Ni
OH + Op + HO
H,O + Q; +H
1 H.O + Hy + OH-
9
h
S. Some solid potassium iodide was placed in an evaporating basin. Two carbon,
electrodes were inserted and connected to a 12 volt DC power source and
alight bulb. The potassium iodide was heated. As soon as the potassium
iodide was molten, the bulb came on. Purple fumes were seen coming from
the positive electrode, and lilac flashes were seen around the negative one,
‘8 Explain why the bulb didn’t come on until the potassium iodide melted.
b State the name of the positive electrode.
© Name the purple fumes seen at the positive electrode, and write the ionic
half-equation for their formation,
The lilac flashes seen around the negative electrode are caused by the
potassium which is formed. The potassium burns with a lilac flame. Write
the ionic hatf-equation for the formation of the potassium.
«© State the products formed at the electrodes if molten sodium bromide is
electrolysed instead of molten potassium iodide.
| Write the ionic half-equations for the reactions occurring during the
electrolysis of molten sodium bromide. Coe aS
BEDE creas
Era cnn)
4 For electrolysis of each of the following
|. write the ionic half-equation for the reaction occurring at the cathode
|i_write the ionic half-equation for the reaction occurring at the anode
state what has been oxidised and what has been reduced,
Molten lead) bromide using carbon electrodes
Sodium chloride solution using carbon electrodes
Calcium bromide solution using carbon electrodes
Copper) sulfate solution using platinum electrodes
Aluminium nitrate solution using carbon electrodes
‘Molten magnesium jodide using carbon electrodes
s~eaoce
4g Dilute hydrochloric acid using platinum electrodes.
5 You are asked to find out whether two compounds, S and T, are electrolytes
or non-electrolytes. S melts at 1261 °C and is soluble in water. T melts at
265°C and is insoluble in water. Describe, with the aid of diagrams, how
you would find out if each of these substances was an electrolyte or a
non-electrolyte. In each case say what you would look for to help you to
decide.
6 When copperil) sulfate solution is electrolysed using copper electrodes the
reaction at the cathode is the same as with inert electrodes but no oxygen is
given off at the cathode. Instead the anode gets smaller as copper ions go
into solution, The half-equation for the reaction at the anode is:
Cu(s) + Cu?(aq) + 26°
© Write the half-equation for the reaction at the cathode.
When copper) sulfate solution is electrolysed using inert electrodes the
blue colour of the solution fades and the solution becomes more acidic.
| Explain these observations.
Predict and explain what happens to the colour and acidity of the
solution when copperil) sulfate solution is electrolysed with copper
electrodes.
EWES ei) ae
113
