CHAPTER 6 :

ELECTROCHEMI
STRY

6.1 PROPERTIES OF
ELECTROLYTES
& NONELECTROLYTES

ELECTROLYTE
Chemical
Contains free
compound
moving ion to
which conducts
carry
electricity in
electrical
molten or
charges
aqueous state

Break down
into its
elements at
electrodes

Example : ionic compounds & acid

Non ELECTROLYTE
No free
Chemical
moving ion to
compound
carry
Example:
which cannot
electrical
Covalent
conduct
charges
compounds
electricity in all
(Consists of
states
molecule)

6.2 ELECTROLYSIS OF
MOLTEN COMPOUNDS

ELECTROLYSIS?
Electrolysis the process of breaking down chemical
compounds into their constituent elements using
electric current.
In electrolysis, an electrolyte in the form of molten
compounds or aqueous solution can be broke into its
elements
Example:
Molten
aluminium oxide

electric current
Aluminium + Oxygen

During electrolysis:
Anions
(negative ions) will be
pulled towards the
anode
(positive electrode)

At the anode, anions

will be discharged by
releasing electrons
to the anode

Cations
(positive ion) will be
pulled towards the
cathode
(negative electrode).

At the cathode,
cations will be
discharged by
accepting electrons
from the cathode

Observation normally seen in the

electrolysis process are as follows:
At the anode:
Product

Observation

Chlorine gas

Greenish-yellow gas bubbles released

Bromine gas

Brown vapour released

Iodine gas

Purple vapour released

Oxygen gas

Colourless gas bubbles released

At the cathode:
Almost all metals
(except copper)

Grey solids formed

Copper metal

Brown solid formed

Hydrogen gas

Colourless gas bubbles released

6.3 ELECTROLYSIS OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

CATIONS & ANIONS

IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
Water molecules slightly
dissociate

H2O
OH-

H+ +

Aqueous
solution

Ions present
Anion

Cation

Sodium
chloride, NaCl

Chloride ion, ClHydroxide ion,

OH-

Sodium ion, Na+

Hydrogen ion, H+

Nitric acid,
HNO3

Hydroxide ion,
OHNitrate ion, NO3-

Hydrogen ion, H+

When there is more than ONE type of

cation attracted to the cathode or
more than ONE type of anion attracted
to the anode, the choice of ion to be
discharged depends on:

a)Position of the ions in the

electrochemical series
b)Concentration of
electrolyte
c)Types of electrode

ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
K+

F-

Na+

SO42-

Ca2+

NO3-

Mg2+

Cl-

Al3+

Br-

Zn2+

I-

Fe2+

OH-

Sn

2+

Pb2+
(H+)
Cu2+
Hg2+
Ag+
Au3+

Prone to
be
chosen
for
discharg
e

(B) Concentration of
ions in electrolyte
solutions

 An ion that is more

concentrated is preferably
discharged
However, the concentration of
ions normally affects the choice
of ions to be discharged at the
anode only
The type of ion chosen for
discharge at the cathode is still
determined by the position of
the ion in the electrochemical

(C) Types of
electrodes

If the type of metal used

as the anode, metal atoms

will lose electrons to form
metal ions.
Metal

metal ion

+ electron

At the cathode metal ions will receive

electrons and form metal atoms

Metal ion + electron

atom

metal

The concentration of electrolyte solution

does not change. This is because the
rate of change of metal atoms into
metal ions at the anode is equal to the
rate of change of metal ions into metal
atoms at the cathode

6.5 VOLTAIC
CELL

ELECTROLYSIS

VOLTAIC CELL

VOLTAIC CELL

Produces electrical
energy from chemical
reactions occurring
inside it.
2 different conductors
which are immersed in
an electrolyte solution

DANIEL CELL

Comparison between electrolytic cell & voltaic cell

Electrolytic Cell

Similarities

Voltaic Cell

Contains an electrolyte solution

Contains electrodes
Involves chemical changes on the electrodes

Differences

2 similar or
Made of
different
electrodes
Used to produce
Electric current
chemical
reactions
Electrical energy Energy changes
to chemical
energy
Negative
Cathode
terminal

2 different
electrode
Produced from
chemical
reactions
Chemical energy
to electrical
energy
Positive terminal

6.6 The Electrochemical Series

K
Na
Ca
Mg
Al
Zn
Fe
Sn
Pb
(H)
Cu
Hg
Ag
Au

The electrochemical series

can be built based on the
following principles:
a) Potential differences
between two metals in
the voltaic cell
b) Ability of a metal to
displace another metal
from its salt solution

Construction of the electrochemical

series based on metal displacement
Metal that is more electropositive can
displace another metal which is less
electropositive from its salt solution
(B)

Example:
Zn +
+ Cu

Cu(NO3)2

Zn(NO3)2