ELECTROLYSIS I

U nit 5. 6
N otes prepared using text book, online resources , teacher notes
Images from docbrown, gcebuddy.
Revisiting Terms
• Electrolysis: The process of separating an element or elements from its compound using electricity.
• Electrodes: Conducting rods made of graphite or other metals such as platinum. These would be dipped
or immersed in the electrolyte.
• Inert electrodes: Electrodes that only conduct and do not take part in the reaction.
• Active electrodes: Electrodes that only conduct and take part in the reaction, by reducing or increasing in
size.
• Anode: The electrode attached to the positive terminal of the power supply, hence attracts negative ions
(anions).
• Cathode: The electrode attached to the negative terminal of the power supply, hence attracts positive ions
(cations).
Terms
• Electrolytes-Ionic compounds that allow the passage of electricity, however they must either be in the
molten state or the aqueous state ( dissolved in water)
• Ionic compounds- compounds made of a cation (a positive metal ion) and an anion ( a negative non-
metal ion/ compound ion)
• Covalent compounds- compounds that have only non-metals and there are no ions in their formation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uIIq_Ofzgw
Ease of Discharge

GCESTUDY.COM
What does ease of discharge mean?
• Listen to the lecture attentively.
Practice
Q:What are ions present in the following?
Molten NaCl
CO2
CaF2
CaSO4
H2O
MgO
CuSO4 solution
Inert Electrodes vs Active Electrodes
• Electrolyte: CuSO4 solution
• Ions present: Cu+2 SO4-2 H+ OH-
• Inert electrodes: Graphite
• Active Electrodes: Copper

Anode Cathode
Inert electrodes OH- , formation of oxygen H+, H2 released
Active electrodes Copper anode dissolves Copper cathode increases
in size
Electrolysis of NaCl solution
• Electrodes: Inert (Graphite)
• Ions present: Na+ , Cl- , H+, OH-
• At the ANODE: 4OH-  O2 + 2H20 +4e
• At the CATHODE: 2H+ +2e  H2
• Product left behind: Na+ and Cl-
• Observation: ???
Electrolysis of molten NaCl

• Electrodes: Inert (Graphite)

• Ions present: Na+ , Cl- ,
• At the ANODE: 2Cl-  Cl2 +2e
• At the CATHODE: 2Na+ +2e  Na
• Product left behind: none
• Observation: ???
Electrolysis of conc. NaCl

• Electrodes: Inert (Graphite)

• Ions present: Na+ , Cl- , H+, OH-
• At the ANODE: 2Cl-  Cl2 + 2e
• At the CATHODE: 2H+ +2e  H2
• Product left behind: Na+ and OH-
• Observation:?
CW: Electrolysis of molten PbBr2
• Electrodes:
• Ions present:
• At the ANODE:
• At the CATHODE:
• Product left behind:
• Observation:?

• Why is heat necessary?

Electrolysis of H2SO4
• Electrodes: Inert (Graphite)
• Ions present: H+, OH-, SO4 -2
• At the ANODE: 4OH-  O2 + 2H20 +4e
• At the CATHODE: 4H+ + 4e  2H2
• Product left behind: H+ and SO4 -2

• If 200 cm3 of oxygen is produced, how much H2 is produced?

Electroplating
• The process of coating objects with a precious metal or an unreactive metal using electrolysis.
• Electrodes needed: ACTIVE
• Electrolyte: Compound of the same metal as the one to be electroplated with
• Anode: Metal bar (used for electroplating)
• Cathode: Object to be electroplated
Electroplating with silver
• Electrodes needed: ACTIVE Silver electrode and object
• Electrolyte: AgNO3
• Anode: Silver bar (used for electroplating)
• Cathode: Object to be electroplated

• What happens?
• Anode: Silver bar dissolves into solution. Gets smaller in size.
Ag  Ag+ +1e
• Cathode: Object gets a coating of silver.
• Ag+ +1e  Ag
Videos to watch
• Electrolysis of brine
• Electrolysis of NaCl
• Electroplating with silver