Chapter 6

Electrochemistry

A. Electrolytes & Nonelectrolytes

Electrolytes
Substances that can conduct
electricity and undergo chemical
changes
Non-electrolytes
Substances that cannot conduct
electricity

Why electrolyte at molten and

aqueous state can conduct
electricity?

BECAUSE
There presence of free moving ions
in the electrolyte

B. Electrolysis of Molten
Compounds
Electrolysis
A process where compounds in
molten or aqueous state are
broken down into their constituent
elements by passing electricity
through them

Electrolytic cell
The set of apparatus needed to
STEPS OCCUR DURING
conduct electrolysis
+

ELECTROLYSIS

Movement of ions to the

electrodes.
Discharges of ions at the
electrodes.

Anode

Cathode
Electrolyte

Graphite or platinum
is usually used as
electrodes because
they are inert.

Important note:
Observation
Anode (positive electrode)

Electrolysis
product

Observation

Confirmatory test

Chlorine gas

Greenish-yellow gas
bubbles released

Changes moist blue

litmus paper to red

Bromine gas

Brown gas released

Iodine

Purple gas released

Oxygen gas

Colourless gas bubble

released

Metal (all metal)

The mass of electrode decreased

Copper metal

Brown solid formed

Place a glow
wooden splinter
near the mouth of
test tube
The glowing wooden
splinter light up

Important note:
Observation

Cathode (negative electrode)

Electrolysis
product

Observation

Confirmatory test

Almost all metal

(except copper
metal)

Grey solid formed

The mass of electrode
increase

No test for metals

Copper metal

Brown solid formed

Hydrogen gas

Colourless gas
bubbles released

Place a lighted
wooden splinter
near the mouth of
test tube
A pop sound
heard/produced

Electrolysis of molten
compound
PbBr2
LiCl
MgBr2
PbI2
ZnO
CuCl2
Molten

Potassium oxide
Molten Magnesium oxide
Molten Potassium iodide

Electrolysis of Aqueous
Solutions
Factors that affect the electrolysis
of an aqueous solution
Position of ions in the
Electrochemical Series
Concentration of ions in the
electrolytes
Types of electrodes used in the
electrolysis

Position of ions in the

Electrochemical Series
The

ions that are lower in the

electrochemical series will be
selected discharged

0.02 mol dm-3 of hydrochloric acid,

HCl using platinum as electrodes

Platinum

Platinum
0.02 mol dm-3 of
hydrochloric acid, HCl

The Electrochemical Series

K+

F-

Na+

SO42-

Ca2+

NO3-

Mg2+

Cl-

Al3+

Br-

Zn2+

I-

Fe2+

OH-

Sn2+
Pb2+
H+
Cu2+
Ag+

Ease of discharge
increases

Concentration of ions
If

the concentration of a
particular ions is high, the ions is
selectively discharged

TIPS:

ANODE
Ion selectively discharged based on
CONCENTRATION of ions
CATHODE
Ion selectively discharged based on position
of ions in Electrochemical Series

2 mol dm-3 of hydrochloric acid,

HCl using platinum as electrodes

Platinum

Platinum
2 mol dm-3 of
hydrochloric acid, HCl

Types of electrodes
Electrolysis

of copper(II)
sulphate, CuSO4 solution using
copper electrode
Electrolysis of silver nitrate,
AgNO3 solution using silver
electrode

0.02 mol dm-3 of silver nitrate,

AgNO3 using silver as electrodes

Silver

Silver
0.02 mol dm-3 of silver
nitrate, AgNO3

0.02 mol dm-3 of copper(II)

sulphate, CuSO4 using copper
as electrodes

Copper

Copper
0.02 mol dm-3 of
copper(II) sulphate,
CuSO4

D. Electrolysis in
Industries
The

most industrial application of

electrolysis:
1.
extraction
2.
purification
3.
electroplating of
metals

E. Voltaic Cells
Chemical

energy to electrical

energy
Examples of chemical cell:

simple voltaic cell

Daniell cell

dry cell

alkaline cell

lead-acid accumulator

Simple Voltaic Cell

Two different metals being
immersed into an electrolyte and
connected by wire
V

Daniell cell has two

types

F. The Electrochemical
Series
The

Electrochemical Series is
series of element, arranged
according to the order of
decreasing tendency to released
electrons.
Or the greater the tendency to
donate electrons, the more
electropositive is the metal and
the higher it is in the
Electrochemical Series.

Principles Used:
Metals

are arranged according to the tendency

of their atoms to release electron.
More the tendency of their atoms to release
electron, the higher located it is in the series.
Elements located at HIGHER part of the
Electrochemical Series are more
electropositive and have higher tendencies to
release electrons to form positive ions.
Example : magnesium is more electropositive
than copper in Electrochemical Series

The Electrochemical Series can

be constructed based on:
Metals are arranged according to
their tendency to release electrons
to form positive ion (cation).
metal has a higher tendency to
release electron placed a the
higher position in
Electrochemical Series.
the metal act as negative
terminal

The ability of a metal to displace

another metal from its salt solution.
If metal is able to displace
another metal from its salt
solution, this metal is placed at
the higher position in
Electrochemical Series

The potential difference between

two metals.
The further apart between two
metals in the Electrochemical
Series, the greater the
potential difference between
them.
The greater the voltage
produced by the cell.