Electrochemistry

(Electrolysis)
What do you
know about
electrochemistry
?
•Electrochemistry is the study of electron movement in
an oxidation or reduction reaction at a polarized
electrode surface.
 Learning Objectives

• Define conductors, insulators and electrolytes.

• Write equations for the dissolution of ionic compounds in water.
• Describe the nature of electrolytic cells.
• -Describe the functions of the various components of electrolytic cell.
• -Diagram electrolytic cells, labeling the anode, cathode, and directions of ions and
electron movement.
• -Be able to give the products and write the reactions at the electrodes for the
electrolysis of molten salts.
Starter question
•Which substance is oxidized and which is reduces?
Justify your answer.
 Group work discussion

What do you know

about conductors
and
insulators?
Conductors
• Conduct electricity, (they allow electricity to flow
through them).

• The only solids that conduct electricity are the metals &
graphite, and they conduct electricity because of their
free electrons.
 Non-conductors or Insulators

• Electricity will not flow through them.

• They are Safe…

This is why plastic is used for casing in electric plugs,
and
Ceramics are used to support the cables.

• Pure molecular compounds such as sugars not conduct

electricity because their molecules are not charged (they have no ions)
 Group Work

What is an electrolyte?

How do electrolytes differ from conductors?

What is an electrolyte?
• A liquid that contains ions, therefore it conducts electricity.

• Liquids that conduct electricity due to the presence of free ions are
called electrolytes.
• Example:

• Molten salts, aqueous solutions of acids, alkalis and salts.

 Check your understanding
Will sodium chloride conduct electricity as shown below?
conduct
NaCl (s) (yes/No)
NaCl (aq) (yes/No)
NaCl (l) (yes/No)

The ions become free to move when the substance is molted or dissolved,
and can conduct electricity.
What is a non electrolyte?
Does an aqueous solution of sugar conduct
electricity?
Justify your answer.
• No, because it does not contain any ions.
• Sugar molecules does not split into ions (sugar is a non electrolyte)
How to write equations
for the dissolution of
ionic compounds
in water.
 Write equations for the dissolution of the following
ionic compounds in water.
1. Sodium chloride

2. Copper(II) sulfate

3. Hydrochloric acid

4. Silver nitrate

5. Lead bromide
What do you know about redox reactions?
 Redox reactions
oxidation-reduction reactions
What is electrolysis?
 Electrolysis in Real Life application

• Electrolysis is used extensively in extraction or purification of metals

from ores or compounds and in deposition of metals from solution
(electroplating).

• Metallic sodium and chlorine gas are produced by the electrolysis of

molten sodium chloride; electrolysis of an aqueous solution
of sodium chloride yields sodium hydroxide and chlorine gas.

• electrolysis can provide permanent hair removal. It’s safe to use for
facial hair removal and on the rest of body.
 Electrolysis is ….
• The decomposition or splitting up of an electrolyte by the passage of
an electric current.

• *Decomposition using electricity.

• This process requires energy → endothermic process.

Electrolytic Cell

What are the parts of

an electrolytic cell?
 The Principles of electrolysis
• What parts/objects/things can you see in the diagram below.
The electrolytic cell
 Own it …..
• Prepare a report about the use of electrolysis in real life.

• You can compare between Electrolysis and Laser Hair Removal

(Differences & Benefits)
Important to Remember…
 The Electrodes…..

• Negative electrode (-ve) → cathode

• Positive electrode (+ve) → anode

• Inert electrodes carry the current into the liquid but remain
unchanged.

• Examples of inert electrodes: graphite and platinum

• How does the current (electrons) flow? Show your answer on the diagram.
• Show how the ions move?
• Electrolysis is a redox reaction

• Reduction takes place at the cathode (-ve electrode).

• Oxidation takes place at the anode (+ve electrode).

• Metals and hydrogen form on the cathode.

• Non metals form on the anode.

Note…
• Keep heating when using a molten ionic compound
• Why??????

• So it will remain in the liquid state, so ions will be free to move.

 Part 2
Learning Objective:
Be able to give the products and write the reactions at the electrodes for
the electrolysis of molten salts.
Starter question:

• What is electrolysis?
• What are the parts of an electrolytic cell?
Pre-Assessment

• What will form at the cathode?

• What will form at the anode?

 Electrolysis of molten salts
•Example 1

Electrolysis of molten lead bromide (PbBr2)

1. Electrolysis of molten lead bromide (PbBr2)

At cathode
r.h.r:

At anode
o.h.r:
At the cathode: At the anode:
• lead ions receive 2e’s and become bromide ions each give up an
lead atoms electron, and become atoms. Then
they pair up to form molecules.
• r.h.r.: Pb+ 2 + 2e- Pb
o.h.r. : 2Br- Br2 + 2e-
• (lead collects on the electrode and
drops off)
Observation:
• Observation: a silvery grey layer of Red - brown fumes of bromine
molten lead metal appears below the
cathode. gas bubbles off.
Remember :
• Metals and hydrogen form on the cathode.

• Non metals form on the anode.

Self assessment

Try this…..
Example : 2 The electrolysis of molten sodium chloride
(NaCl)
 Electrolysis of molten NaCl
Positive
A node OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Negative
Is + -
Na Cl
C athode Na + Cl -
Electrolysis of molten NaCl

Cl2 Na
Na
Electrolysis of molten NaCl
Product at the anode
___________________________ 2
Cl
Half equation at the anode 2Cl- Cl2 + 2e-
___________________________
Product at the cathode
___________________________
Na
Half equation at the cathode Na+ + e- Na
___________________________
RULE: Metals are produced at the Cathode
Non-metals are produced at the Anode
At the cathode: At the anode:
• sodium ions receive 1e and become chloride ions each give up an
sodium atoms electron, and become atoms. Then
they pair up to form molecules.
• r.h.r.: Na+ + e- Na
o.h.r. : 2Cl- Cl2 + 2e-
• (sodium collects on the electrode and
drops off)
Observation:
• Observation: a silvery layer of molten Greenish-yellow fumes of
sodium metal appears below the
cathode. chlorine gas bubbles off.
 Critical thinking Question

Write the half reactions for the reaction at the anode, and
cathode during the electrolysis of calcium oxide

What are the products that form at each electrode

What are your observations?

Post-Assessment

• What will form at the cathode?

• What will form at the anode?

Group Work Activity
 Time to Practice :
• Write the half reaction that takes place at the cathode and the anode
during electrolysis of these molten compounds. (draw the diagram)

• copper (II) chloride:

Assessment Time…
1.
2.
3.
 Exit Ticket
Complete the table

Product at the Product at the

Compound
cathode anode
lead iodide
lead bromine

zinc chloride chlorine

zinc
sodium chloride sulfur
lead
aluminium oxide oxygen
aluminium
CHALLENGE: Can you write the chemical formula for each element
or compound in the table above.