Electrolysis

Chemistry

Anode : positive electrode

Cathode : negative electrode
Electrolyte : liquid or solution that contains an ionic compound
Electrolysis : breaking down of ionic compounds by electricity
Cation : positive ion
Anion : negative ion
Aqueous : solution which is soluble is dissolved in water like
(cuso4) ( to have free ions)
Molten : insoluble which cannot be dissolved in water so its
melted like (lead bromide) ( to have free ions )
Electrodes are usually made of graphite or platinum

Graphite Platinum
- Good electricity conductor - good conductor of electricity
- High melting point - high melting point
- Cheap - durable ( able to last long )
- unreative - unreactive

Why is graphite used instead of magnesium ?

n because it is unreactive

note : ions move through the electrolyte while electrons move through
the circuit only

Molten electrolytes

Example : molten lead bromide

using graphite electrolyte
So we have lead and bromide , lead is positive and
bromide is negative
So
anode Cathode

Br goes to the anode Pb goes to the cathode

Because its negative because its positive
and the anode is and the cathode is
positive negative
 à note this is to separate the ionic compound to its old form so :

Br : the negative bromide ions will be attracted to the anode and when they get
there they are discharged (they go from charged ion to neutral atom ) then they
go back to their old form bromine gas (redbrown gas )

Pb : the positive lead ions will be attracted to the cathode then they will be
discharged this time to form pure lead which will fall /sink down (grey)

( so in terms of electrons smth special is happening , so the electrons

from the bromine are taken by the anode then transported along the
wire to be given from the cathode to lead ion turning it to pure lead )

Note :

Why the anode becomes thinner by time ?

- because graphite reacts with bromine gas at high temp

why is this experiment done in a fume cardboard ?

- because the gas is toxic

Flip
 Extraction of aluminum

- its main ore is bauxite which contains aluminum

oxide
- note :
Metals more reactive than carbon, such as aluminium, are
extracted by electrolysis, while metals less reactive than
carbon, such as iron, may be extracted by reduction with
carbon. As gold is so unreactive, it is found as the native
metal and not as a compound. It does not need to be
chemically separated.
- So aluminum is extracted by electrolysis

Preparation before the process :

- Bauxite is purified to produce aluminum oxide Al2O3

- then its dissolved in molten cryolite ( to reduce its
melting point from 2000 (expensive) to 1000 )

the electrolysis cell is made of steel lined with graphite

• The graphite lining acts as the negative electrode, with several large graphite
blocks as the positive electrodes
At cathode :
Aliminium ions gains electrons
Molten aluminium forms at the bottom of the cell (Al 3+
+ 3e- → Al )

At the anode :

Oxide ions lose electrons

Oxygen is produced at the anode:

Note the carbon in the graphite react with the oxygen produced to make
co2

C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g)

As a result the anode wear way and have to be replaced often
Also a lot of electricity is needed so this process is expensive

Aqueous electrolysis

Deciding :

- We have water molecules and the ionic

compound
 - First we decide which
will go to the cathode by
the least reactive (which
will be discharged)

- Second to know which will go to the anode if

its from the halides (g7) they will go but if it
any other metal then the hydroxide will et
discharged

Electroplating

- To prevent rusting
- To give good appearance

The metal is always the anode

The object plating is cathode
The electrolyte have to be the same as the metal
The copper atoms will go to the brass cathode
and it will deposit on it electroplating it , then
Sulphur will stick to the copper anode which will
cause the loose o copper to the solution