9.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY

9.1 Conduct investigations leading to the classification of substances as conductors or non-conductors.

Conductors Non-Conductors
Allow an electric current to pass through. Do not allow an electric current to pass
Metals, graphite, molten ionic through. Non-metals (except graphite),
compounds, aqueous solutions of ionic plastics, solid ionic compounds and
compounds, acids and alkalis are aqueous solutions of covalent compounds
conductors. are non-conductors.
9.2 Distinguish between metallic and electrolytic conduction.

Metallic conduction Electrolytic conduction

Mobile electrons carry the electric current Mobile ions carry the electric current
through the metal. through the electrolyte.
The metal remains chemically unchanged. The electrolyte decomposes.

9.3 Classify electrolytes as a strong or weak based on their conductivity.

Strong electrolytes
Strong electrolytes are fully ionized when dissolved in water, e.g. strong acids, strong alkalis and soluble
ionic compounds. These have a high concentration of ions in solution. For example:
HCL (aq)  H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
Molten ionic compounds are also classified as strong electrolytes.

Weak electrolytes
Weak electrolytes are only partially ionized when dissolved in water e.g weak acids and weak alkalis.
These have a low concentration of ions in solution.

Strong electrolytes Weak electrolytes

Acids Hydrochloric acid Carbonic Acid
(HCl(aq)) (H2CO3(aq))
Nitric acid (HNO3(aq)) Ethanoic acid
Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4(aq)) (CH3COOH(aq))

Alkalis Potassium hydroxide Aqueous ammonia

solution (KOH(aq)) (NH3(aq))
Sodium hydroxide
solution (NaOH(aq))

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Salts Molten sodium chloride
(NaCl(l))
Sodium chloride solution
(NaCl(aq))
Molten potassium
bromide (KBr(l))
Potassium bromide
solution (KBr(aq))

9.4 Define electrolysis, cathode, anode, cations, anions

Electrolysis is when an electric current is passed through an electrolyte, the electrolyte is decomposed
into simpler substances, i.e. it undergoes a chemical change known as electrolysis.

Cathode is the electrode or terminal by which current leaves an electrolytic cell/battery.

Anode is the electrode or terminal by which current enters an electrolyte cell/battery.

Cations are positively charged ions.

Anions are negatively charged ions.

9.5 Identify ions present in electrolytes

THE IONS PRESENT IN ELECTROLYTES ARE

The Anions
The Cations

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9.6 Predict the electrode to which an ion will drift;

The negative anions are attracted to the positive anode which they are discharged to form
atoms by losing electrons to the anode.
The positive cations are attracted to the negative cathode where they are discharged to form
atoms by gaining electrons from the cathode.

9.7 Predict the chemical reactions making use of the electrochemical series.

The lower the ion in the electrochemical series of anions, the more likely it is to be
preferentially discharged. Ions at the top of the series are the hardest to discharge because they
are the most stable. Ions at the bottom are the easiest to discharge because they are the least
stable.
Nn-  N + ne-

The position of the ion in the electrochemical series influences the preferential discharge of the
cations. The lower the ions in the electrochemical series of cations, the more likely it is to be
preferentially discharged. Ions at the top of the series are the hardest to discharge because they
are most stable. Ions at the bottom are the easiest to discharge because they are the least
stable.
Mn+ + ne-  M

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 9.8 Discuss the electrolysis of certain substances.

Example: Electrolysis of molten (fused) lead (II) bromide using inert graphite electrodes

Ions present in the electrolyte:

Pb and Br – (l)
2+

Events at the anode:

The Br- ions move towards the anode where each ion loses an electron to the anode to form a
bromide atom (the ions are discharged). Bromine atoms immediately bond covalently in pairs to
form bromide molecules: 2Br-(l) Br2 (g) + 2e-
Red-brown bromine vapour is evolved around the anode.

Events at the cathode:

The Pb2+ (l) + 2e-  Pb (l)
Molten lead is formed around the cathode and drips off.

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Electrolyte and Electrodes Reactions at the How the
ions present electrodes and nature electrolyte
of this product changes
Inert – At anode: OH- Becomes
Dilute carbon ions are more
sulfuric or preferentially concentrated:
acid, platinu discharged, H+ and OH-
H2SO42- m they are ions are
(aq) lower in the removed
electrochemi leaving H+
cal series and SO42- ions
than SO42-: in excess i.e.
4OH-(aq) water is
2H2O (l) + removed.
O2(g) + 4e-
Effervescence
occurs as
oxygen gas
evolved.
At cathode:
H+ ions are
discharged:
2H+ (aq) + 2e-
 H2 (g)
Effervescence
occurs as
hydrogen gas
is evolved.
Relative
proportion of
gases: for
every 4 mol
electrons, 1
mol O2 and 2
mol H2 are
produced.

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9.9 Define the Faraday constant.

The Faraday constant is the size of the electrical charge on one mole of electrons, i.e. 96 500 C
mol-1.

9.10 Calculate the masses and volumes of substances liberated during electrolysis:
Example: To determine the mass of magnesium produced at the cathode when a current of 7.5 A flows
through molten magnesium chloride for 25 minutes and 44 seconds.

Determine the quantity of electricity (Q) that flows:

Current = 7.5 A
Time in seconds= (25 x 60) + 44s = 1544s
Quantity of electricity (C) = current (A) x time (s)
Quantity of electricity = 7.5 x 1544 C
= 11580 C
Write the equation for the reaction at the cathode:
Mg 2+(l) + 2e- Mg (l)
2 mol 1 mol
From the equation:
2 mol of electrons are required to form 1 Mg
2 x 96 500 C are required to form 1 mol Mg
I.e. 193 000 C form 1 mol Mg
1 C form 1/193 00 mol Mg = 0.06 mol Mg
Mass of 1 mol Mg= 24g
Mass of 0.06 mol Mg = 0.06 x 24 g = 1.44 g
Mass of Magnesium produced = 1.44 g

Example 2: Calculate the volume of oxygen produced at the anode at rtp if an electric current of 5.0 A is
passed through dilute sodium chloride solution for 3 hours, 51 minutes and 36 seconds.
Quantity of electricity that flows:
Current= 5.0 A
Time in seconds= (3 x 60 x 60) + (51 x 60) + 36s = 13 896 s
Quantity of electricity = 5.0 x 13 896 C = 69 480 C
Equation for the reaction at the anode: 4OH-(aq)  2H2O (aq) + O2 (g) + 4e-
1 mol 4 mol
From the equation:
4 mol electrons are lost in forming 1 mol O2
4 x 96 500 C form 1 mol O2
i.e. 386 000 C form 1 mol O2
69 480 C form 1/386 000 x 69 480 mol O2 = 0.18 mol O2
Volume of 1 mol at rtp = 24.0 dm3
Volume of 0.18 mol O2 = 0.18 x 24.0 dm3 = 4.32 dm3 Vol. of gas produces = 4.32 dm3

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9.11 Describe industrial applications of electrolysis.

Extraction of metals from their ores.

Electrolysis of the molten ore is used to extract aluminum, and metals above aluminum in the
electrochemical series, from their ores.

Purification of metals (electro refining)

Electrolysis is used to convert an impure metal into pure metal, a process known as electro refining.
The anode is the impure metal.
The cathode is a very thin strip of pure metal.
The electrolyte is an aqueous solution containing ions of the metal being purified.
Example: Purification of Copper

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 Electro plating:
Electro plating is the process by which a thin layer of one metal is deposited on another metal by
electrolysis. It is used to protect the original metal from corrosion, to make am inexpensive metal object
appear more valuable.
The anode is a pure sample of the metal being use for plating.
The cathode is the object to be electroplated.
The electrolyte is an aqueous solution containing ions of the metal being used for plating.
Example: Silver plating

Anodising:
Anodising is a process used to increase the thickness of an unreactive oxide layer on the surface of a
metal, usually the aluminium oxide (Al2O3) layer on the surface of aluminium objects. The aluminium
oxide layer is relatively unreactive and adheres to the object, protecting it against corrosion. It also
readily absorbs dyes, so can be attractively coloured.
Example:

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