Electrode ( rod of metal or graphite ) which an electric current flows into or out of an electrolyte

Electrolyte : ionic solution( aqueous or molten ) which the electric current is passed through
Anode : positive electrode ( where anions go )
Cathode : negative electrode ( where cations are attracted )

Anions lose electrons at the anode and non metals form

Cations gain electrons in the cathode and a metal or hydrogen forms

During electrolysis, current needs to flow around the circuit ( current is a measure of the rate of flow of
charge )
The power supply provides electrons to the cathode making it negatively charged, the cations move
towards the cathode and they then gain electrons. The negative ions move towards the anode where
they lose electrons and the electrons move from the anode to the power supply and back through the
cathode. Electrons are charge carriers in external circuit and ions are charge carriers in electrolyte

Sodium chloride electrolysis

2 electrodes are inserted in brine and connected to a power supply, electricy is passed through and
hydrogen gains electrons at the cathode to form hydrogen gas, while chloride ions lose electrons to
form chlorine gas at the anode. The less reactive element or ion is the one that is discharged. Chlorine is
used to make bleach or to clean water of microorganisms, hydrogen is used to make ammonia or used
to make margarine and sodium hydroxide is used to make soap and detergents

Dilute sulfuric acid electrolysis

Hydrogen forms at the cathode ( H+ ions are attracted to cathode and gain electrons )
OH ions are attracted to the anode and oxygen gas and water are formed

For ionic compounds in aqueous solutions, the concentration of the solution needs to be considered. A
concentrated solution of barium chloride will see the chloride ion being discharged more readily than
the OH- ions so chlorine gas is produced, but a dilute solution of barium chloride will see the OH- ion
discharged and oxygen gas will be produced. In either cases the other negative ion stays in the solution

For the cathode, either hydrogen or the metal will be produced. This depends on whether the metal is
above hydrogen in the reactivity series, if the metal is above hydrogen then hydrogen will be produced
because the metal reacts with the other negative ion in the solution, if the metal is less reactive than
hydrogen then it will be produced in the cathode

electrolysis of copper sulfate :

Ions present : CU2+, SO42- , H+ and OH- ions

Cu2+ and H+ ions are both attracted to the cathode but copper is formed cuz it is less reactive than
hydrogen

SO42- and OH- ions are both attracted to anode but OH- ions lose electrons more readily and are
oxidized to form oxygen gas

Half equation for copper formation : Cu2+ + 2e- = Cu

Half equation for oxygen formation : 4OH- = O2 + 2H2o + 4e-

Diatomic molecules : FON and friends, fluorine oxygen nitrogen hydrogen chlorine bromine iodine
astatine

Electroplating :
Coating a pure metal with another metal to either improve it’s appearance or It’s resistance to corrosion
or damage

The metal you want to electroplate is placed at the cathode and the metal you want to electroplate with
is placed at anode. Metal in anode is oxidized and loses electrons to form cations which travel through
the solution and gain electrons at the cathode. They then deposit themselves as metals The electrolyte
needs to be a soluble salt of the metal you are electroplating with.

Hydrogen fuel cells :

Fuel is any chemical substance that can be burned to produce energy

Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells are electrochemical cells where energy and water are produced as the
products
Fuel donates electrons at one electrode ( anode ) and oxygen gains electrodes at the cathode, this
produces electricity

Hydrogen + oxygen = water

Hydrogen fuel cells are becoming more popular in the automative industry to replace petrol or diesel
engines

Advantages :
Do not produce pollution as their only product is water whereas diesel and petrol engines produce CO2
and oxides of nitrogen
Release more energy per kilogram than petrol or diesel
No power is lost in transmission as there is no moving parts
Less noise pollution

Disadvantages :
Expensive materials
Hydrogen is difficult and expensive to store and easily explodes under pressure
Fuel cells are affected by low temperatures becoming less efficient
Only a small number of hydrogen filling stations across the country
Hydrogen is often obtained by combustion of fossil fuels negating the effect of using it in the first place.

Advantages:

Less pollution as no CO2 or oxide of nitrogen is produced compared to diesel/petrol engines

Less noise pollution as the process is quieter
More energy per kilogram compared to diesel/petrol
More efficient as less energy is lost during transmission

Disadvantages :
Expensive materials
Hydrogen expensive and difficult to store and easily explodes under pressure
Only a certain number of hydrogen fillign stations across the country
Cells are affected by low temperature making them less efficient
Hydrogen is often obtained by combustion of fossil fuels negating the effect of using it in the first place

Extraction of aluminium:

Bauxite is first purified to produce aluminum oxide

Aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite to lower its melting point to make it less expensive
Mixture is placed in electrolysis cell , made from steel lined with the graphite cathode ( negative
electrode ). The anodes are large graphite blocks in the mixture.
At the cathode :
Aluminium ions gain electrons and molten aluminium forms at the bottom of the cell. It is siphoned from
time to time and fresh mixture is added from time to time
Equation :

Al3+ + 3e- = Al

At the anode:

Oxide ions lose electrons and oxygen is produced at anode

2o2- = O2 + 4e-
Overaall equation :
4Al + 3O2 = 2Al2O3

The carbon in the graphite anode reacts with oxygen produced to form CO2 gas
As a result the anode wears away and needs to be replaced regularly
A lot of electricity is required for this process which makes it expensive