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1. INTRODUCTION TO ELECTROLYSIS

2. DEFINITION OF ELECTROLYSIS,
ELECTRODE AND ELECTROLYTE

3. ELECTROLYSIS IN MOLTEN COMPOUNDS

4. PREDICTING PRODUCTS OF ELECTROLYSIS OF

MOLTEN COMPOUNDS

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Electrolytes Substances that can conduct electricity in molten or aqueous
state and undergo chemical changes.

Electrical
conductivity
Due to the presence of free moving ions.
of electrolyte

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Non-electrolytes: Substances that cannot conduct electricity

Conductors: Substances that can conduct electricity in a solid or

molten state but do not undergo any chemical changes

Electrical conductivity of conductor: Due to the flow of

electrons.

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ELECTROLYSIS ELECTRODE ELECTROLYTE
• A process of • Conductors that pass • Substances that can
breaking down a electricity through the conduct electricity in
compound into its electrolyte during molten or aqueous
constituent elements electrolysis. state and undergo
by passing electricity chemical changes.
through it.

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 The source of electricity
To measure electric
current

Anode
Cathode

Electrolyte: Molten ionic

compound or aqueous
solution that undergoes
chemical changes when
electricity passes through it

Electrolytic cell 6
A molten ionic compound consists of free moving cations (positive ions)
and anions (negative ions).

Electrolyte Cation Anion

Lead (II) bromide Pb²⁺ Br⁻

Magnesium chloride Mg²⁺ Cl⁻

Silver nitrate Ag⁺ NO₃⁻

Copper (II) sulphate Cu²⁺ SO₄²⁻

Sodium hydroxide Na⁺ OH⁻

Sodium chloride Na⁺ Cl⁻

Lead (II) oxide Pb²⁺ OH⁻

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 Electrolytic cell
During electrolysis,

1. Cations move to the cathode.

Therefore, each cation is
e⁻ e⁻
e⁻ discharged to form an atom by
e⁻
gaining electron.
2. Anions move to the anode. Thus,
e⁻ e⁻
e⁻ each anion is discharged to form
e⁻
an atom by losing electron.
Anode Cathode 3. Electrons flow from the anode to
- - - -
- - - the cathode through the wire.
- - Pb²⁺
Br⁻ - -
Br⁻ - Pb²⁺ Molten lead (II) bromide
- - -
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Half equation at the Anode : 2 Br- Br2 + 2e

Half equation at the Cathode : Pb2+ + 2e Pb

Ionic equation : Pb2+ + 2 Br- Pb + Br2

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 1. Lead (II) oxide, PbO compound
contains lead (II) ions, Pb²⁺ and
oxide ions, O²⁻.
Oxide 2. Lead (II) ions, Pb²⁺ are
attracted to the cathode
whereas oxide ions, O²⁻ are
attracted to the anode.

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 Electrode Anode Cathode

Discharge of ion Oxide ions, O²⁻ are discharged by

losing electrons to form an oxygen
molecule.

Half equation
2O2- O2 + 4e

Observation A colorless gas is released A grey solid is deposited

Product Oxygen gas is produced Lead metal is produced

Overall ionic equation

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