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Savani Cambridge International School

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Grade: IX Subject: CHEMISTRY Topic: Electrolysis

Name of Teacher: TRUPTI BHALODIA Name of Student ____________________

Electrolysis is the process by which ionic substances are broken down into simpler
substances using electricity. During electrolysis, metals and gases may form at the
electrodes.

Electrolysis

To understand electrolysis, you need to know what an ionic substance is.

Ionic substances form when a metal reacts with a non-metal. They contain charged particles called
ions. For example, sodium chloride forms when sodium reacts with chlorine. It contains positively
charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions. Ionic substances can be broken down by
electricity.

Electrolysis is the process by which ionic substances are decomposed (broken down) into
simpler substances when an electric current is passed through them.

For electrolysis to work, the ions must be free to move. Ions are free to move when an ionic substance
is dissolved in water or molten (melted). For example, if electricity is passed through copper chloride
solution, the copper chloride is broken down to form copper metal and chlorine gas.

Electrolysis

Here is what happens during electrolysis:

 Positively charged ions move to the negative electrode during electrolysis. They receive
electrons and are reduced.
 Negatively charged ions move to the positive electrode during electrolysis. They lose
electrons and are oxidised.
 Predicting the products of electrolysis

Ionic substances in solution break down into elements during electrolysis. Different elements are
released depending on the particular ionic substance.

At the negative electrode

At the negative electrode, positively charged ions gain electrons. This is reduction, and you say that
the ions have been reduced.

Metal ions and hydrogen ions are positively charged. Whether you get the metal or hydrogen during
electrolysis depends on the position of the metal in the reactivity series:

 the metal will be produced if it is less reactive than hydrogen

 hydrogen will be produced if the metal is more reactive than hydrogen

The reactivity series of metal - carbon and hydrogen are not metals, but they are shown for
comparison

So the electrolysis of copper chloride solution produces copper at the negative electrode. But the
electrolysis of sodium chloride solution produces hydrogen.

At the positive electrode

At the positive electrode, negatively charged ions lose electrons. This is oxidation, and you say that the ions have
been oxidised. The table summarises some of the elements you should expect to get during electrolysis.

negative ion in solution element given off at positive electrode

chloride, Cl– chlorine, Cl2

bromide, Br– bromine, Br2

iodide, I– iodine, I2

oxygen, O2
sulfate,
Putting it together
The table shows some common ionic compounds, and the elements released when their
solutions are electrolysed.

ionic substance in solution element at the negative electrode element at the positive electrode

copper chloride, CuCl2 copper chlorine

copper sulfate, CuSO4 copper oxygen

sodium chloride, NaCl hydrogen chlorine

hydrochloric acid, HCl hydrogen chlorine

sulfuric acid, H2SO4 hydrogen oxygen

Purification of copper

Copper is a good conductor of electricity, and is used extensively to make electrical wiring and
components. The extraction of copper from copper ore is done by reduction with carbon. However,
the copper produced is not pure enough for use as a conductor, so it is purified using electrolysis.

Electrolysis of copper
In this process, the positive electrode (the anode) is made of the impure copper which is to be
purified. The negative electrode (the cathode) is a bar of pure copper. The two electrodes are placed
in a solution of copper(II) sulfate.
The animation shows what happens when electrolysis begins. Copper ions leave the anode and are
attracted to the cathode, where they are deposited as copper atoms. The pure copper cathode
increases greatly in size, while the anode dwindles away. The impurities left behind at the anode form
a sludge beneath it.

The chlor-alkali industry

Brine is concentrated sodium chloride solution. If an electric current is passed through it, hydrogen gas forms at
the negative electrode and chlorine gas forms at the positive electrode. A solution of sodium hydroxide forms.

You might have expected sodium metal to be deposited at the negative electrode. But sodium is too reactive for
this to happen, so hydrogen is given off instead.
 Electrolysis

Electrolysis of sodium chloride solution

These three products - hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide - have important uses in the chemical
industry:

Hydrogen

 making ammonia
 making margarine

Chlorine

 killing bacteria in drinking water

 killing bacteria in swimming pools
 making bleach
 making disinfectants
 making hydrochloric acid
 making PVC
 making CFC's - limited production

Sodium hydroxide

 making soap
 making paper
 making ceramics