contents

Electrolysis of molten
compounds
Electrolysis of solutions
Electroplating
Extraction of metals
Electric cells
electrolysis of molten compounds
an electrolyte is an ionic compound that conducts
electricity; molten state or solution in water
molten ionic compounds and solutions of ionic compounds
can conduct electricity due to presence of mobile ions that
can carry current
electrolysis is the conduction of electricity by an electrolyte,
leading to its decomposition
example: electrolysis of molten sodium chloride
inert electrodes (e.g. carbon electrodes) do not react in
electrolysis
electrolysis of molten compounds
electrolysis of molten sodium chloride
battery
ammeter to
show current
flowing
porcelain crucible
pipeclay triangle
tripod
HEAT
STRONGLY
molten sodium
chloride
-
+
carbon anode; attracts
anions; oxidation
carbon cathode; attracts
cations; reduction
electrolysis of molten compounds
at the anode, Cl
-
ions give away electrons to become Cl
2
;
Cl
-
ions are discharged
Na
+
(l) + e Na(l)

molten sodium chloride contains Na
+
and Cl
-
ions
at the cathode, Na
+
ions take in electrons to become Na
atoms; Na
+
ions are discharged
2Cl
-
(l) Cl
2
(g) + 2e
-
overall reaction
2NaCl(l) 2Na(l) + Cl
2
(g)
electrolysis of molten sodium chloride
electrolysis of molten compounds
electrolysis of molten sodium chloride
molecules of
chlorine gas
produced
chloride ion
gives electron
to anode
chlorine atom
electrons flow
from anode
into battery
anode cathode
sodium ion
takes electron
from cathode
sodium atom
sodium metal
produced
electrons flow
from battery
into cathode
sodium ion
attracted to cathode
chloride ion
attracted to anode
electrolysis of molten compounds
electrolysis of other molten compounds
when a molten ionic compound is electrolysed, metal is
produced at the cathode; non-metal is produced at the
anode
Molten Electrolyte
Product at
Cathode
Product at Anode
calcium chloride, CaCl
2
calcium, Ca

chlorine, Cl
2
sodium iodide, NaI sodium, Na

iodine, I
2
lead(II) oxide, PbO lead, Pb

oxygen, O
2