CHEMICAL EFFECTS OF

ELECTRIC CURRENT
CBSE Class 8
Conductors and Insulators

■ The materials which allow electric current to pass through them, are good conductors of
electricity. Eg- copper and aluminium
■ On the other hand, materials, which do not allow electric current to pass through them
easily, are poor conductors of electricity(Insulators). Eg- rubber and plastic.
 Do liquid conducts electricity ?

■ Not all liquids can conduct electricity.

• Water containing salts and minerals dissolved in it always conduct electricity.
• Distilled water which does not contain any salts cannot conduct electricity.
• Most liquids that conduct electricity are solutions of acids, bases, and salts.
■ When electricity is passed through a conducting solution, the molecules of the solution
dissociate into ions.
■ Ions are atoms or group of atoms with a positive or a negative charge.
■ These ions cause electrical conduction through the liquid.
■ A liquid that conducts electricity due to the presence of ions is called an electrolyte.
 Chemical effect of Current
■ Passage of current through chemical solutions causes chemical reactions to
take place.
■ Chemical effects include:
• formation of gas bubbles at electrodes
• deposition of metals at electrodes
• Changes in solution colour
 Electrolysis
■ The effect in which components of a compound get split due to passing an electric
current through it is called electrolysis.
■ Two electrodes are inserted in the solution and are connected to the terminals of a
battery with a switch in between.
■ This arrangement is called an electrolytic cell.
■ The electrode that is connected to the positive terminal of the battery is called the anode,
and the other connected to the negative terminal is called the cathode.
 Electroplating and the process
■ The process of depositing a layer of any desired metal on another material by means of
electricity is called electroplating.
■ It is widely used in industry for coating metal objects with a thin layer of a different
metal.
■ The layer of metal deposited has some desired property, which the metal of the object
lacks.
■ The object to be electroplated is made the cathode (negative electrode) by connecting it
to the negative terminal of the battery.
■ The metal which has to be deposited is made the anode (positive electrode) by
connecting it to the positive terminal of the battery.
■ The electrolyte is usually a salt solution of the metal to be coated.
 Application of Electroplating
■ Many kitchen equipments, bath taps, parts of cars etc. are covered with chromium coating.
Chromium is an expensive metal hence the objects are created with the cheaper metal and
chromium coating is provided. Thus, to bring a shining over the objects and prevent them from
corrosion chromium coating is used.
■ Tin cans, used for storing food, are made by electroplating tin onto iron. Tin is less reactive than
iron. Thus, food does not come into contact with iron and is protected from getting spoilt.
■ Bridges and various parts of automobiles are made up of iron because it provides strength.
However in order to prevent iron from getting rusted a coating of zinc is provided over it. This
method is also called galvanization of iron.