ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

PREPARED BY SHADRACH QUAINOO

DPS INTERNATIONAL GHANA
CHEMISTRY
• An electrochemical cell is a source of electrical energy
• The simplest design consists of two electrodes made from metals
of different reactivity immersed in an electrolyte and connected to
an external circuit
• A common example is zinc and copper
• Zinc is the more reactive metal and forms ions more easily, releasing
electrons as its atoms form ions
• The electrons give the more reactive electrode a negative charge and
they then flow around the circuit to the copper electrode
• The difference in the ability of the electrodes to release electrons
causes a voltage to be produced
• The greater the difference in the metal’s reactivity, the greater the
voltage
Exam Tip
Electrochemical cell made with copper and magnesium.

These metals are further apart on the reactivity series

than copper and zinc and would hence
produce a greater voltage
The more negative value is made the anode
The more positive value is made the Cathode
• If you have two electrodes made of different metals connected, how
can you tell which one is oxidized and which one is reduced?
• The metal that is higher on the reactivity series is made the anode.
• The metal that is lower on reactivity series is made the cathode
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF
ELECTROLYSIS
EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM
Extraction of Aluminium
• The Earth’s Crust contains metals and metal compounds such as Gold,
Iron Oxide and Aluminium Oxide, but when found in the Earth, these
are often mixed with other substances
• To be useful, the metals have to be extracted from their ore through
processes such as electrolysis, using a blast furnace or by reacting
with more reactive material
• Metals which lie above carbon have to be extracted by electrolysis as
they are too reactive
Reactivity series & extraction of metals
Extraction of Aluminium by electrolysis
Raw Materials: Aluminium Ore (Bauxite)
Explanation:
• The Bauxite is first purified to produce Aluminium Oxide Al2O3
• Aluminium Oxide has a very high melting point so it is first dissolved in
molten cryolite producing an electrolyte with a lower melting point, as well
as a better conductor of electricity than molten aluminium oxide. This also
reduces expense considerably
• The electrolyte is a solution of aluminium oxide in molten cryolite at a
temperature of about 1000 °C. The molten aluminium is siphoned off from
time to time and fresh aluminium oxide is added to the cell. The cell
operates at 5-6 volts and with a current of 100,000 amps. The heat
generated by the huge current keeps the electrolyte molten
• A lot of electricity is required for this process of extraction, this is a major
expense
Reaction at the Negative Electrode:

Al3+ + 3e- → Al
Reaction at the Positive Electrode

2O2- – 4e– → O2
Some of the Oxygen Produced at the positive electrode then reacts with the Graphite (Carbon)
electrode to produce Carbon Dioxide Gas:

C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g)

• This causes the carbon anodes to burn away, so they must be
replaced regularly.