ELECTROLYSIS

TERM Conductor MEANING conduct A substance that can electricity without chemical platinum changes, usually in solid form. Example .., and carbon.

Anode

Cathode
Electrolyte

A conductor which is connected to the positive terminal of batteries in electrolytic cell. negative A conductor which is connected to the terminal of batteries in electrolytic cell molten Chemicalcompound that can conduct electricity either in or ........ aqueous . state because of the presence of free moving ions.

Electrolysis

Cation Anion Electrochemical series

A process whereby a compound . is decomposed to its constituent elements when electric current . passes through an electrolyte. Cu2+ cathode Positive .. ion attracted to the ., for example .. Negative anode OH.. Ion attracted to the ., for example Cland .. ions release An arrangement of metals based on the tendency to.. electron to form a .. ion. positive

The important basics to master electrolysis ; (i) Able to write ionization equation to determine the ions present in molten or aqueous electrolyte : :

Example of molten electrolyte

NaCI (l) Na2O (l) AI2O3 (l) Na+ 2Na+ 2AI3+ + + + CIO23O2-

Example of aqueous electrolyte :

-NaCI (aq)
H2O -CuSO4 (aq) H2 O -H2SO4 (aq) H2O

Na+
H+ Cu2+ H+ 2H+ H+

+
+ + + + +

CIOHSO42OHSO42OH-

(ii) Able to write half equation at the anode and cathode. The table below shows common discharge equations at the anode and cathode. Complete the table :
Half equation at the anode [ negative ion @ metal releases electron]

Half equation at the cathode [positive ion receives electrons] 2H+ + 2e

2Cl-

Cl2 + 2e

H2

(Very common cation discharge equation because hydrogen ion present in all aqueous solution. Hydrogen ion is always selected in dilute solution because it is less electropositive than most cation) 4OH-

2H2O + O2 + 4e

Ag+

+e

Ag

(Very common anion discharge equation because hydroxide ion present in all aqueous solution .Hydroxide ion is always selected because it is the least electronegative ion in the electro negativity series of anion. Cu 2I

Cu2+ + 2e

Cu2+ + 2e -

Cu

I2 + 2e
Ag+ + e

Ag

(iii)Able to identify factor that affect selective discharge of ions for aqueous electrolyte :

Factor 1.Position of ion in the electrochemical series 2. Concentration

When to apply Dilute solution Inert Electrode e.g carbon / platinum

How to choose the ion The less electropositive ion is selected i.e H+/Cu2+/Ag+ ion at the cathode The less electronegative ion is selected i.e hydroxide ion at the anode The concentrated ion is selected at the anode but this is only true for halide ions, which are chloride, bromide and iodide H+ is always chosen because K+/Na+ ions are very electropositive

Concentrated solution Inert Electrode e.g carbon / platinum

3. Type of electrode

Metal electrode eg copper and silver.

Metal atom of metal anode releases electron to form metal ion, metal anode becomes thinner. The less electropositive ion than hydrogen ion will be discharged. The concentration of electrolyte is unchanged because the number of metal atom become metal ion at the anode is the same the number metal ion become metal atom at the cathode.

NaCI (aq)
H2O

Na+ (aq) +
H+ +

CIOH-

Carbon electrode
DILUTE [0.0001 Moldm-3]

CONCENTRATED [ 2 Moldm-3]

ANODE(+)
IONS ATTRACT ED

CATHODE(-)

ANODE(+)

CATHODE(-)

OH-, Cl4OH2H2O + O2+ 4e

H+, Na+

OH-, Cl2ClCl2 + 2e A Greenish-yellow gas released. Place a damped blue litmus at the mouth of the test tube, the gas changed the damp blue litmus paper to red and bleached it

H+, Na+ 2H+ + 2e H2

H. EQN OBSVN/ CONFIR M. TEST

CONC OF ELECTRO LYTE AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD

2H+ + 2e H2 Bubbles are Bubbles are released , place released . Place a glowing wooden lighted wooden splinter near the splinter near the mouth of test tube, mouth of test tube, pop sound glowing wooden splinter lighted up is produced Concentration of sodium chloride solution increases Hydrogen gas is released at the cathode and oxygen gas is given off at the anode. Water decomposed to oxygen gas and hydrogen gas.

Bubbles are released . Place a lighted wooden splinter near the mouth of test tube, pop sound is produced Hydrogen gas released at the cathode and chlorine gas given off at the anode. Concentration of chloride ion decreases. Concentration of sodium chloride solution decreases

CuSO4 (aq) H2O

Cu2+ (aq) + H+ +

SO42OH-

CARBON ELECTRODE CARBON ELECTRODE

COPPER ELECTRODE

ANODE(+)
IONS ATTRAC TED HALF EQUATI ON OBSRN/ CON TEST

CATHODE(-)

ANODE(+)

CATHODE(-)

SO42-, OH-

Cu2+, H+ Cu

SO42-, OHCu Cu2+ + 2e

Cu2+, H+ Cu2+ + 2e Cu

4OH-

2H2O + O2 + 4e Cu2+ + 2e

Bubbles are released , place glowing wooden Brown solid splinter near the deposited mouth of test tube, glowing wooden splinter is lighted up

Copper electrode becomes thinner

Brown solid deposited

CONCEN TRATIO N OF ELECTR OLYTE AFTER A CERTAI N PERIOD

Concentration of copper(II) sulphate solution decreases The intensity of blue colour of copper(II) sulphate decreases. Copper(II) ions discharge at the cathode

Concentration of copper(II) sulphate solution remains unchanged. The intensity of blue colour of copper(II) sulphate solution remains unchanged. The number of copper atoms form copper(II) ions at the anode is equal to the number of copper(II) ions form coppe atoms at the cathode.

ELECTROLYT E Dilute sulphuric acid

ELECTR ODE Carbon

FACTOR THAT AFFECT ELECTROLYSIS

IONS PRESENT

HALF EQUATION AT THE ANODE AND OBSERVATION

HALF EQUATION AT THE CATHODE & OBSERVATION

Position of ion in electrochem series Concentration

H+, SO42-, OHH+, Cl-, OHAg+, NO3-, H+, OH-

4OH- 2H2O + O2 + 4e Bubbles are released 2Cl- Cl2 + 2e A greenish-yellow gas released

2H+ + 2e H2 Bubbles are released 2H+ +2e H2 Bubbles are released

Concentrated hydrochloric acid Silver nitrate solution

Carbon

Carbon

Position of ion in electrochem series Type of electrode

+ 4OH- 2H2O + O2+ 4e Ag + e Ag Shiny grey solid Bubbles are released deposited

Silver nitrate solution Potassium iodide solution

Silver

Ag Ag+ + e Ag+, Silver electrode NO3-, +, OH-, becomes thinner H K+, H+, I-, OH-

Ag+ + e Ag Shiny grey solid deposited

Carbon

Position of ion in electrochem series

4OH- 2H2O + O2 + 4e 2H+ + 2e H2 Bubbles are released Bubbles are released 2I- I2 + 2e Brown solution is formed 2H+ + 2e H2 Bubbles are released

Concentrated potassium iodide solution

Sodium sulphate solution

Carbon

K+, Concentration H+, I-, OHPosition of ion in electrochem series

Carbon

H+, Na+, 4OH- 2H2O +O2+ 4e 2H++ 2e H2 OH-, Bubbles are released Bubbles are released SO2-

ELECTROLYSIS IN INDUSTRY
1. Electroplating Example : Silver electroplating

Anode: Silver Ag Ag+ + e

Cathode : Spoon Ag+ + e Ag

 Silver atom the anode releases electrons to form silver ions ,Ag+ and moves into the silver nitrate solution: Ag(s) Ag+(aq) + eThe anode becomes thinner/ smaller Silver ion, Ag+ move to the cathode receives electron to form silver atom : Ag+(aq) + eAg(s) Silver is deposited onto the surface of the object as the object becomes silver plated. The rate at which the silver atoms become silver ions at the anode is the same as the rate at which the silver ions become silver atoms at the cathode The concentration of the silver nitrate solution therefore remains unchanged.

2. Purification of metal

Anode is impure copper Cathode is pure copper Electrolyte is copper(II) sulphate solution Copper atom the anode releases electrons to form copper ions ,Cu2+and moves into the copper sulphate solution. Cu(s) Cu2+(aq) + eThe anode becomes thinner/ smaller Copper ion receives electrons to form copper atom at the cathode Cu2+ (aq) + 2eCu (s)
The pure copper is deposited at the cathode

APPLICATION

EXAMPLE

ANODE / HALF EQUATION / OBSERVATION

CATHODE/ HALF EQUATION / OBSERVATION

Silver Electroplating electroplating

Anode is silver Ag Ag+ + e Silver anode becomes thinner Anode is impure copper Cu Cu2+ + 2e

Ag+ + e Ag Shiney Grey solid deposited Cathode is pure copper Cu2+ + 2e Cu Pure copper becomes thicker Cathode is steel container is coated with carbon Al3+ + 3e Al Grey liquid metal formed

Purification of Purification of copper metal

Impure copper becomes thinner

Metal Extraction

Extraction of Aluminium

Anode is with carbon 2O2- O2 + 4e

Colorless gas given off.

VOLTAIC CELL / CHEMICAL CELL

A cell that produces electrical energy when chemical reactions occur in it.

Chemical energy Electric Energy

Produced when two different metals are dipped in an electrolyte and connected by an external circuit.

The voltage of chemical cell depends on the distance between the two metals in the electrochemical series, where the further the distance between them, the higher is the voltage.

NEGATIVE TERMINAL (anode) v

More electropositive metal. Metal atom(electrode) releases electrons & dissolve to form metal ions. Electrons flow through the external circuit to positive terminal. Metal atom becomes metal ion (becomes thinner)

POSITIVE TERMINAL (cathode)

Less electropositive metal The electrons that flow from the external circuit flow through the positive terminal. Positive ions in the electrolyte accept electrons to form neutral atom/molecule (gas bubbles releases/ metal deposited)

Electrolyte

v Example
Magnesium

Copper

H2 SO4

Negative terminal: Mg Mg2+ + 2e Magnesium atom releases electron to form magnesium ion, Mg2+. Electrons flow through external circuit to the positive terminal. Magnesium electrode becomes thinner/dissolve. Positive terminal: 2H+ + 2e H2

Hydrogen ions receive electrons to form hydrogen molecule. Gas bubbles are released.

DANIELL CELL
Each metal is dipped in its aqueous solution. The two solutions are separated by a salt bridge or porous pot. The function of the salt bridge/porous pot is to allow the flow of the ions.

V Zinc
Copper

V Copper Porous pot Zinc sulphate Copper(II) suphate

Zinc

Salt bridge

Zinc suphate

Copper(ii) sulphate

ZINC ELECTRODE : zinc is more electropositive than copper Negative terminal because .. Half equation Zn Zn2+ + 2e :

Zinc electrode becomes thinner Observation : COPPER ELECTRODE : copper is less electropositive than Positive terminal because . zinc Equation

Cu2+ + 2e Cu : ..

Observation (i)Brown solid deposited. (ii) The intensity of blue colour of : copper(II) sulphate decreases. If the zinc metal is replaced with a magnesium metal, the voltage reading increases because magnesium is further from copper in the Electrochemical Series

Metal Displacement Reaction. The metal which is situated at a higher position ( higher tendency to release electron) in the electrochemical series is able to displace a metal below it from its salt solution.

Copper

Blue solution Grey solid Silver nitrate solution

Experiment

Observation

Explanation/ Inference/Conclusion -Copper atom releases electrons to Copper(II) form .. ion grey silver -The solid is . silver ion receives electron to form silver .. atom Copper(II) ion -The blue solution is.. silver -Copper has displaced from silver nitrate solution : Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag Cu + 2AgNO3 ............................. more -Copper is.electropositive than above silver// Copper is silver in the Electrochemical Series.

Silver nitrate solution Copper strip

-Copper strip thinner becomes. grey A. solid deposited colourless -The solution turns blue.

-Magnesium atom releases magnesium ion electrons to form.. copper. brown -The solid is .. Copper(II) ion receives electrons to -Magnesium strip becomes thinner ..
Copper(II) sulphate solution Magnesium strip

copper. form .. atom -The colourless solution is magnesium sulphate . -Magnesium has displaced copper. from copper(II) sulphate solution : MgSO4+ Cu Cu + 2AgNO3 ............................... more -Magnesium is electropositive than copper // Magnesium is above copper in the

brown The solid deposited -The blue solution colourless turn

electrochemical series of metal