The Electrochemical

Series
 The electrochemical series
• Metal atoms lose electrons to form positive metal cations.
• Some metal atoms will lose electrons more easily than other.

• When metal are placed in order of ease with which they lose
electrons, i.e how easily they ionise, the electrochemical series
is created.
The electrochemical series
• The more easily a metal atom ionises, the more STABLE are
the ions that it forms. Stable ions are hard to convert back to
atoms.

• These metals are located at the top of the electrochemical

series. Metals that form unstable ions are located at the bottom
of the electrochemical series.
The electrochemical series
When metals lose electrons they act as reducing agents when they react with
other substances.

They give electrons to the other

reactant. The more easily they give
electrons, the stronger their reducing
power.
The electrochemical series
Therefore, the strength as a reducing agent
increases up the group.
 Displacement of metals
A metal will displace a metal that is below it in the electrochemical series
from a compound that contains the lower metal.

Higher metal(s) Donates its electron;

Discharges the lower
metal Higher metal- Cl
Lower metal-Cl + Lower metal (s)
 Example
Will a reaction occur if a strip of magnesium ribbon is placed in copper (II)
sulfate solution?
 Example
Will a reaction occur if a strip of magnesium ribbon is placed in copper (II)
sulfate solution?
 Displacement of Hydrogen
Metals above hydrogen will displace H+ ions in an acid to form hydrogen
gas. Metals below hydrogen in the electrochemical will not displace it.

Metal higher than Donates its electron;

Hydrogen (s) Discharges the lower

metal Metals higher than
H+ - Cl
HCl + Hydrogen gas
 EXAMPLE
Will a reaction occur if copper turnings are placed in sulfuric acid?
 Electrochemical series of non-metals
• When non metals are placed in order of ease in which they gain electrons,
how easily they ionise, the electrochemical series of non metal is created.

• Since non metals gain electrons when they ionise, they act as oxidising
agents when they react with other substances i.e they remove electrons from
other substances.
• The more easily they remove electrons, the stronger the oxidising power.
Electrochemical series of non-metals
The strength of an
oxidising agent
increases up the
group
 EXAMPLE
Will a reaction occur is chlorine gas is bubbled into
sodium iodide solution?
EXAMPLE
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
 WHAT IS

ELECTROCHEMISTRY?
 ELECTROCHEMISTRY
This is the study of the relationship between chemical reactions
and electrical energy.

An electrochemical reaction is one which either produces electrical

energy or requires electrical energy to proceed.
 Electrical Conduction
Conductors: these are substances that allow electricity to pass
through. They can either be solid , liquid or solution.

Some examples include metals, graphite, molten ionic compounds,

solutions of ionic compound and aqueous acids and alkalis.
 Electrical Conduction
Non -Conductors: these are substances that do not allow electricity
to pass through. They can either be solid , liquid or solution.

Some examples include non- metals(except graphite), plastics,covalent

compounds, solid ionic compound
 Electrical Conduction
In order for a substance to conduct electric current it must
contain charged particles which are able to move through
the substance.
• Ions
• Electrons
 Metallic Conduction
In a metal the valence electrons of the atom are DELOCALISED.
These mobile electrons are able to move throughout the metal.

The metal will be able to conduct electric current.

During metallic conduction, the metal remains unchanged.

 Electrolytic Conduction
When the ionic compounds melts, the ions are no longer ionic bonds, they
become free to move throughout the liquid.

This also occurs when an ionic compound dissolves in water, the bonds
break apart and move throughout the solution.

During electrolytic conduction, the electrolyte decomposes.

 Electrolytic Conduction

When ionic compounds melt or dissolve in water, the

liquid or solution created contains ions and is known as
an ELECTROLYTE.
Electrolytic Conduction
 Strength of Electrolytes
How can we distinguish between strong and weak
electrolytes?
 Strong Electrolytes
Strong Electrolytes are fully ionised when dissolved in water. eg
strong acids, strong alkalis, soluble ionic compounds. These have
high concentration of ions in solution.
 Weak Electrolytes
Weak Electrolytes are partially ionised when dissolved in water. eg
weak acids, weak alkalis. These have low concentration of ions in
solution.
 Non Electrolyte
This is a substance which remains as molecules when in the liquid
state or dissolved in water. The liquid or solution does not contain
any ions. Non-electrolytes are non-conductors. eg. kerosene,
gasoline, ethanol and glucose
Electrolysis
When an electric current is passed through an
electrolyte,
the electrolyte decomposes into simpler
substances. It undergoes a chemical change
known as electrolysis.
 The battery or other d.c power supply
provides the electric current.

Two electrodes that is connected via wires to the battery or power

supply, which takes the electric current into and out of the
electrolyte. They must be able to conduct electric current and must
be made of an inert material such as graphite or platinum.

The anode is connected to the positive terminal and the cathode is

connected to the negative terminal.

The electrolyte which is a molten ionic compound or a solution

containing mobile ions.
During electrolysis both anions and cations are
discharge, i.e they lose or gain electrons to form
neutral atoms.
The anions (negative ions) are attracted to the anodes (positive electrode).
The anions lose electrons to the anode form atoms.

Oxidation occurs at the anode. The anode acts as an oxidising agent.

 The electrons lost by the anions at the anode,travel through the circuit to
the positive terminal of the battery. Then they re-enter the circuit from the
negative termimal of the battery and travel to the cathode.
 The cations (positive ions) are attracted to the cathode (negative
electrode). The cations gain electrons from the cathode to form atoms.

Reduction occurs at the cathode. The cathode acts as a reducing agent.

 Electrolysis of molten electrolytes

Molten electrolytes contain only two kinds of ion.

Both are discharged during electrolysis.
 Electrolysis of molten electrolytes Lead (II)
bromide using inert electrode

Ions presents in the electrolyte :

At the anode:

At the cathode:
 Electrolysis of aqueous solution
An aqueous solution contains at least two different cations
and two different anions owing to the presence of H+ ions
and OH- ions from the water molecule.
Only one type of ion of each charge is discharged at each
electrode.
 Electrolysis of aqueous solution
Three factors determine which ions are discharged:

• The position of the ion in the electrochemical series: The lower the ion in the
electrochemical series, the more likely for it to be discharged.
• Relative concentration of the ions: the greater the concentration of an ion, the
more likely it is to be discharged. This applies especially to solutions containing
halide ions.
• Nature of the electrode: An electrode which is not inert can take part in a
reaction. If an active electrode is used, then the reaction requires less energy.
Electrolysis of Dilute NaCl solution
Electrolysis of Concentrated NaCl solution
Electrolysis of Concentrated NaCl solution
Electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate solution using an inert
electrode
What is expected to be seen at the cathode?
Brown deposit (copper) collecting on the cathode.

Electrolyte gradually becomes lighter blue as the concentration of the copper

ions decreases.

This occurs because although both copper ions and hydrogen ions both
migrate to the cathode, since copper ions are lower in the electrochemical
series, it is discharged instead of hydrogen.
Electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate solution using an
inert electrode
What is expected to be seen at the anode?

Effervescence and a gas being given off at the anode.

If the gas is tested with a glowing splint, it should relight,

indicating that the gas liberated is oxygen gas.
Electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate solution using an
inert electrode
Electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate solution using an
inert electrode

Can you write the half equations?

Electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate solution using an copper electrode (active
electrode)
What is expected to be seen at the cathode?

Brown deposit (copper) collecting on the cathode.

This occurs because although both copper ions and hydrogen ions
both migrate to the cathode, since copper ions are lower in the
electrochemical series, it is discharged instead of hydrogen.
Electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate using an copper electrode (active
electrode)
What is expected to be seen at the anode

Copper anode, being active ionizes because this requires less energy
than discharging hydroxide ions.

The electrolyte remain blue because the concentration of copper

cations remain constant .
Electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate using an copper electrode (active
electrode)
 Quantitative Electrolysis

Faraday's First Law of Electrolysis

The mass of a substance produced at, or dissolved from an electrode

during electrolysis is directly proportional to the quantity of
electricity passing through the electrolyte.
 Faraday's Second Law of Electrolysis
The number of faradays required to discharge one mole of an ion at
an electrode is equal to the size of the charge on the ion.

1 faraday is required to discharge one mole of an ion with a single

+
charge. eg Na
2 faradays are required to discharge one mole an ion with a
2+
double charge. eg Cu
Faraday's Second Law of Electrolysis
Uses of Electrolysis