Grade 10

 Solids substances that conduct electricity are

called Conductors
 Mostly metals and graphite
 Its because metals and graphite contain free
electrons in their structures to carry the
charge.
 Solids which do not conduct electricity are
called Insulators
 To test a solid for electrical conductivity, we
put it an electrical circuit like the one below.
If the bulb lights or the ammeter gives
reading, then the solid is a conductor
 It is a liquids that conducts electricity.
 It is because of there are free ions moving
within the liquid to carry the electric current.
 Electrolytes include acids (H2SO4, HCl, etc);
alkalis (NaOH, KOH, etc); and ionic
compounds in molten or aqueous form.
 Electrolysis is a process of breaking down a
compound by electricity.
 Electrolysis cell is a battery each pole to an
electrode and both electrodes are dipped in
the liquid to be electrolyzed.
 The electrode connected to the positive pole
is called the ANODE
 The electrode connected to the negative pole
is called CATHODE
 There are two types of electrodes:
1. Active electrodes (take place in the process
its self)
2. Inert electrodes (not interfering the
electrolysis. Just conduct the electricity)
 Inert electrodes can be either graphite or
platinum.
 Inert electrodes are always used in
electrolysis; active ones are used in
electroplating.
 The Na+ ions flow
towards the negative
electrode and the Cl- ions
flow towards the positive
electrodes
 Negative electrode
(cathode): Na+ + e- → Na
 Positive electrode
(anode): 2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e-
 More ions are in the
electrolytes
 Addition of H+ and OH-
ions from water
 For the positive ions, the
one that get at the cathode
is the least reactive one.
This is because least
reactive elements have
more tendencies to be an
atom
 For the negative ions, oxygen from OH-
from water is discharged at the anode
except one case.
 This is if the other negative ions is a halide
(F-, Cl-, Br-, I-) in high concentration.
 If oxygen from OH- is discharged, the
equation will be: 4OH- → O2 + H2O + 4e
 If the concentration of halide ions is high,
then the halide ions that will be discharged
 The ions present in the electrolytes are H+ and
OH- from water, Na+ and Cl- from sodium
chloride
 At the cathode: 2H+ + 2e- → H2
Bubbles of colorless H2 gas observed
Test to make sure by approaching a lighted
splint, if positive it will burn with pop sound
 At the anode: 2Cl- - 2e- → Cl2
Bubbles of green Cl2 gas observed.
Test to make sure by approaching a damp litmus
paper, if positive it will turn red then bleach
 The ions left are Na+ and OH-. They bond
together forming sodium hydroxide which is an
alkali.
 Overall reaction:
2NaCl + 2H2O → H2 + Cl2 + 2NaOH
 Ions present in the electrolyte are H+ and OH-
from water and Cu2+ and SO42- from
copper(II) sulphate.
 At the Cathode :Cu+2 + 2e- → Cu
A red brown metal is formed.
 At the anode: 4OH- → O2 + 2H2O + 4e-
Bubbles of colorless gas are observed which
is oxygen. To test for oxygen, approach a
glowing splint, if positive it relights.
 The ions left are H+ and SO42- which is bond
together forming sulfuric acid.
 Electrolysis can be used to refine metals.
For example to purify impure copper.
 The cathode will be made of pure copper
 The anode will be made of the impure
copper sample
 The electrolyte will be a solution of copper
salt (copper sulfate /nitrate)
 The anode gradually
gets thinner and
disappears because
the copper ions are
falling of it.
The cathode gets
larger because the
copper of the anode
gets attracted to it.
The electrolyte
remains unchanged.
The impurities of the
anode will settle at
the bottom of the
cell.
So for generally, for refining a metal, the
electrolysis cell must be set up as follows:
 The cathode is a pure sample of the metal to
be refined
 The anode is the impure sample to be refined
 The electrolyte is a salt solution of the same
metal (preferred a nitrate or sulfate)
 Electroplating is covering a metal object with
another metal by electrolysis
 The purposes are:
1. To give the object a protective layer from
corrosion
2. To give the object a shiny better look
 The idea of the electroplating cell is very similar
to that of refining
❖ The Anode is the metal to electroplate with
❖ The cathode is the object to be electroplated
❖ The electrolyte is a salt solution of the metal
to electroplate with
Example:
If we want to
electroplate a steel
fork with silver:
 The anode will be a
pure sample of silver,
 The cathode will be
the fork,
 The electrolyte will
be a silver nitrate
solution.
When the current is turned on:
 Anode:
Equation: Ag → Ag+ + e-
Observation: Gets thinner.
 Cathode:
Equation: Ag+ + e- → Ag
Observation: Gets covered with silver layer,
increases in size.
Note:
 The object to be electroplated must be
rubbed and cleaned with sand paper to
remove any stains that won’t let the metal
cover the whole object firmly
 The object to be electroplated must be
dipped completely in the electrolyte and
rotated continuously to make sure all the
object gets covered uniformly.
 The object to be electroplated must be made
of an electrical conductor.
 Aluminium ore is called bauxite (Al2O3)
 Aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite
(an aluminium compound with lower melting
point than aluminium oxide).
 The use of cryolite will reduces some of the
energy costs involved.
 Aluminium metal forms at the negative electrode
and sinks to the bottom of the tank, where it is
tapped off
 Oxygen forms at positive electrodes. This oxygen
reacts with the carbon of the positive electrodes,
forming CO2 and they gradually burn away.
 Reaction at the cathode:
Al3+ + 3e- → Al
 Reaction at the anode:
2O2- → O2 + 4e-
the oxygen formed will react with carbon
electrode due to high temperature and forms
CO2 gas. Consequently, the positive
electrodes have to be replaced frequently,
which adds to the cost of the process.
 A simple cell is a system that converts
chemical energy into electrical energy.
 It is made of two metals (electrodes), one
more reactive than the other, connected
together by a wire and dipped in an
electrolyte.
 If a light bulb is inserted between the two
electrodes, it will light up.
 If cell consists of a zinc electrode and a
copper electrode dipped in sulfuric acid, this
is how it works:
1. Zinc is more reactive than copper, it loses electrons
much easier. Electrons move from the zinc electrode
to the copper electrode through the wires, the zinc
atoms become ions and fall into the electrolyte.
2. Electrons always move from the anode to the
cathode. So, zinc will be the anode and copper will be
the cathode. The movement of the electrons causes
an electric current which is used in devices like the
light bulb.
3. The zinc is the negative pole of the cell because it
gives out electrons, the copper is the positive pole of
the cell, and it receives them.
4. H+ ions from the sulfuric acid electrolyte gets
attracted to the cathode (copper) and discharged.
Hydrogen gas evolves.
 At the negative pole (zinc anode):
Zn Zn2+ + 2e-
Observation: anode gets thinner
 At the positive pole (copper cathode):
2H+ + 2e- H2
Observation: bubbles of colorless gas.

The larger the difference in reactivity between

the two metals the larger the voltage produced.