ELECTROLYSIS  At the cathode, the cations are discharged by gaining electrons.

INTRODUCTION Cations undergo reduction.

 Electrolysis is the decomposition of an ionic compound by passing Non-electrolytes Weak electrolytes Strong electrolyte
electricity through molten compounds or aqueous solutions of
compounds Organic liquids or Include weak Strong acids, alkalis and
 Electrolytes are ionic compounds which can conduct electric solvents like ethanol, acids and alkalis salt solutions like
current. tetra chloromethane, like lime water, sulphuric acid, aq
 An electrode is a metal or a rod by which the current enters or
pure water, sugar and ethanoic acid and NaOH , CuSO4 and
leaves an electrolyte.
 The positive electrode is called the anode molten Sulphur and carbonic acid. NaCl.
 The negative electrode is called the cathode.
covalent compounds.
 The flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode.
 The negative ions are called the anions 1. ELECTROLYSIS OF MOLTEN COMPOUNDS
 The positive ions are called the cations.
 A simple binary ionic compound contains only two elements- a
Electrolysis occur in
metal and a non-metal.
1. Molten or aqueous solution of ionic compounds
 The metallic ions (M + ) will discharge at the cathode to form a
2.Aqueous solutions of acids or alkalis
metal atom and the anions (N - ) will discharge at the anode to
Note: Solid ionic substances do not conduct electricity as their ions are
held in fixed positions by strong electrostatic forces so ions cannot move form a non-metallic atom.
freely. M n+ + ne - M
In order for the ions to move, the solid must be dissolved in water or made
molten, thereby destroying the lattices. N n- N + ne -

 During electrolysis the anions (negative ions) are attracted to the Examples:
anode (+ve) and the cations (positive ions) are attracted to the
cathode(-ve). A. Molten sodium chloride

 At the anode the anions are discharged by losing electrons. Anions Electrolyte- Molten sodium chloride,

undergo oxidation. Electrode- Carbon anode and cathode.

 Ions in the electrolyte: sodium ions, Na + and chloride ions, Cl -  Water ionizes, to a small extent, to give H + ions and OH - ions as
follows.
Anode reaction: 2Cl - (l) Cl 2 (g) + 2e - [ greenish-yellow gas]
 H2 O(l) H + (aq) + OH - (aq)
Cathode reactions: Na + (l) + e - Na(l)
As more than 1 type of anion and cation are present, preferential
B. Molten magnesium oxide: discharge is carried out based on the following criteria.

 Position of ion in the electrochemical series,

Electrolyte: Molten magnesium oxide.  Concentration of ions
 Nature of electrode.
Electrode: carbon anode and cathode a) Position of ions in the electrochemical series:

Ions in the electrolyte: magnesium ions, Mg 2+ and oxide ions, O 2-

CATIONS ANIONS
2- -
Anode reaction: 2O (l) O 2 (g) + 4 e [ colourless gas ] K+ (aq) SO42- (aq)
Na+ (aq) NO3- (aq)
Cathode reaction: Mg 2+ (l) + 2e - Mg(l)
Ca2+ (aq) CO32-(aq)
C. Molten lead bromide: Mg2+(aq) OH- (aq)
Electrolyte: molten lead bromide Zn2+ (aq) Cl- (aq)
Fe2+ (aq) Br- (aq)
Electrode: carbon anode and cathode
Pb2+ (aq) I- (aq)
Ions: lead ions ,Pb 2+ and bromide ions, Br - H+ (aq)
Anode reaction: 2Br (l) Br2 (g)+2e- [reddish – brown gas] Cu2+ (aq)
Ag+ (aq)
Cathode reaction: Pb 2+ (l) + 2e - Pb (l)
Au+ (aq)
Examples
2. ELECTROLYSIS OF AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTES
1) Electrolysis of dilute sulphuric acid
 Aqueous electrolytes are mixtures of two electrolytes- the
Electrolyte: dilute sulphuric acid
compound and water.
H2SO4 2H+ + SO42-
 H2O 2H+ + OH- Anode: 4OH- (aq) O2 (g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e-
Electrodes: Carbon anode and cathode. Cathode: Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
Ions in the electrolyte: H+, OH- and SO42- Observation: Pink solid is deposited at cathode.
Anode reaction:4OH-(aq) 2H2O( l ) + O2(g ) + 4e- [The blue colour of solution fades away because the Cu2+ ions which give
Cathode reaction:2H+ + 2e- H2(g) the colour to the solution is being removed.]
[Ratio of hydrogen collected to oxygen collected is 2 : 1]
[Sulphuric acid is added to increase the electrical conductivity of the 4)Electrolysis of aqueous CuSO4 using copper electrodes
electrolyte solution]
Electrolyte: Aqueous copper (ll)sulphate
Electrode: copper anode and cathode
2) Electrolysis of dilute Potassium chloride Ions in electrolyte: Cu2+ , H+, SO42- and OH- ions
Anode reaction: Cu(s) Cu2+(aq) + 2e-
2+
Electrolyte: Dilute potassium chloride Cathode reaction: Cu (aq)+ 2e- Cu(s)

KCl K+ + Cl- Observation:

 Copper anode decrease in mass.
H2O 2H+ + OH-
 Size of the copper cathode increases.
Electrodes: Carbon anode and cathode.
 The blue colour of solution does not fade away because for every
+ - - +
Ions in the electrolyte: H , OH , Cl and K Cu2+ ion discharged; one is formed at the anode.

Anode reaction: 4OH-(aq ) 2H2O(l ) + O2(g ) + 4e-

[Hydroxide ion concentration is greater than chloride ion concentration]

Cathode reaction: 2H+ + 2e- H2(g ) Application of electrolysis
3)Electrolysis of aqueous / concentratedCuSO4 using inert electrodes
 Used to extract reactive metals from its compound.
Electrolyte: Aqueous CuSO4  The metals above zinc in the reactivity series are extracted using
Ions in electrolyte: Cu2+, SO42- , H+ and OH- electrolysis.
Electrodes: Carbon electrodes
  Used in the manufacture of chemicals.  Method used: Electrolysis of purified bauxite.
 Commonly electrolysis is done on concentrated aqueous sodium
 Process is carried out in a steel tank lined with graphite (acts as the
chloride to obtain sodium hydroxide and chlorine.
cathode) with blocks of graphite (as the anode).
 Used to electroplate metal objects.
 Used in the purification of metals.  Electrolyte used is molten aluminium oxide dissolved in cryolite.

 Cryolite is used to lower the temperature at which Al2O3 melts and to

NOTE
dissolve the aluminium ore, therefore it reduces the working
 In electroplating the object with a pure metal, the object is
temperature of the cell, save energy and reduces cost.
connected to the cathode and pure metal is connected to the
anode.  Reaction at cathode: Al3+(I)+3e- Al(I)

Molten aluminium formed.

 The electrolyte must be any aqueous solution of pure metal salt.
 Reaction at anode: 2O2- (I) O2(g)+ 4e-
 In purification of impure metal the pure metal is connected to the
 Anode rode must be replaced regularly.
cathode and impure metal to the anode.
 Reason: Oxygen gas formed reacts with carbon in the anodes to
 The electrolyte must be any aqueous solution of pure metal salt.
form CO2 gas. So anode gets used up.
EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM
C(s) + O2 (g) CO2 (g)
 Aluminium is extracted from its ore bauxite, which mainly contains
aluminium oxide

(Al2 O3, FeO, SiO2).

[Add 10% aqueous NaOH since Al2O3, is amphoteric it dissolves with NaOH.
FeO is basic oxide and SiO2is weakly acidic oxide they are insoluble with
NaOH and can be removed by filtering.]
 Cathode reaction:

Ag+ (aq) + e- Ag(s)

2. Copper plating
Electroplating of metals:
Electrolyte: aqueous Copper (II)
Electroplating is a process involving electrolysis to paint or coat one metal sulphate
with another metal. Electrodes: Anode: Metal being used for plating (Copper)
Cathode: Object to be electroplated (Spoon)
Electroplating is commonly carried out Ions in the electrolyte: Cu2+ , SO4 2- , H+ ,OH-
 To enhance a metal appearance,
 To prevent corrosion of the metal
Anode reaction:
 To give shiny and more attractive
Cu(s) Cu2+(aq) + 2 e-
Cathode reaction:
The different type of electroplating are silver plating, chromium plating, Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
nickel plating, copper plating , etc

1. Silver plating:

Electrolyte: aqueous Silver nitrate

Electrodes: Anode: Metal being used for plating (Silver) 3. Nickel plating

Cathode: Object to be electroplated (Spoon) Electrolyte: Aqueous Nickel Sulphate

Ions in the electrolyte: Ag + , NO3- , H+ ,OH- Electrodes : Anode: Metal being used for plating (Nickel) Cathode: Object

Anode reaction: to be electroplated (Spoon)

Ag(s) Ag+ (aq) + e- Anode reaction: Ni(s) Ni2+(aq) + 2e-

Cathode reaction: Ni2+ (aq) + 2e- Ni(s)