• definitions of terms

• uses of electrolysis
• learn to predict products of electrolysis
– molten compounds
– aqueous solutions
• construct ionic equations for the rxns
• describe electrolysis of copper(II) sulphate,
as means of purification
• electroplating of metals
• electricity from simple cells
Electrolysis
 Introducing Electrolysis
• Electrolysis is the decomposition of an ionic
compounds by passing electricity through molten
compounds or aqueous solutions of compounds.
• Electricity is used to produce chemical changes.
• The apparatus used for electrolysis is called an
electrolytic cell.
 Uses of Electrolysis
• Some
important
uses of
electrolysis:
Terms Used in Electrolysis

• An electrolyte is an ionic compound which, when

molten or in aqueous solution, conducts an electric
current and is decomposed in the process.
• An electrode is a rod or plate where electricity
enters or leaves an electrolyte during electrolysis.
Reactions occur at the electrodes (and not inside
the electrolyte). (inert/reactive)
• The anode is the positive electrode connected to
the positive terminal of the d.c. power source.
Oxidation occurs at the anode.
20.2 Introducing Electrolysis
Terms Used in Electrolysis
• The cathode is the negative electrode connected to
the negative terminal of the d.c. power source.
Reduction occurs at the cathode.
• An anion is an ion with a negative charge. During
electrolysis, it is attracted to the anode.
• A cation is an ion with a positive charge. During
electrolysis, it is attracted to the cathode.
• In electrolysis, a compound in the molten state
or in aqueous solution, conducts electricity and
is decomposed by it.
 REVISION – Sec 3 topics
Properties of ionic compounds

• IONIC COMPOUNDS conduct electricity

• in molten state or
• when dissolved in water
• In these 2 states; the ions are mobile to
conduct electricity
• but not as solids since the ions in solids
are immobile
The diagram shows the electrolysis of lead(II)
bromide using inert electrodes. Why does the bulb
only light up when the lead(II) bromide is melted?

A. Bromine atoms in lead(II)

bromide are converted to
ions when it is melted
B. Electrons flow through the
lead(II) bromide when it is
melted
C. The ions in lead(II) bromide
are free to move when it is
melted
D. There are no ions in solid
lead(II) bromide
• Exceptions -
• acids such as HCl and H2SO4
• as they form H+ ions in water they behave
as an electrolyte
• In general, strong acids and alkali are
strong electrolytes
• weak acids and alkalis are weak
electrolytes
In the circuit, the ammeter showed that no current
was flowing. However after a few drops of dilute
sulphuric acid were added to liquid X, the ammeter
showed that a current was flowing. What is liquid X?

A. Aqueous sodium chloride

B. Aqueous sodium hydroxide
C. Dilute sulphuric acid
D. Distilled water
E. Tetrachloromethane
Conduction of electricity Conduction of electricity
by conductor: the by electrolyte: the
conductor remains electrolyte is
unchanged decomposed
The experiment was set up, the bulb light up but
there was no decomposition products at the
electrodes. What is X?

A. Aqueous sodium chloride

B. Liquid bromine
C. Molten sodium chloride
D. Mercury
 Cations Anions
+
+
-
-
+
+ + + + + + ++
-
- - - - - - - - - - -

- +
-
+
- +
-
Cathode + Anode
(-) (+)
Cl- Cu2+
Electrolysis
of
Molten
compounds
(using inert
electrodes)
 Lead(II) bromide PbBr2

• The ions present :

• Pb2+ and Br-
• In the molten electrolyte, charged
ions are free to move
• When current is passed through,
chemical changes occur at both the
electrodes
Electrolysis of PbBr2
• At the anode,
• the power supply pulls the
electrons out of the anode.
• The anode is now positively
charged.
• The anode attracts Br- ions.
• When an ion touches the anode, it
gives up an electron to the anode;
an atom of bromine is formed.
• Br- → Br + e-
• 2Br- → Br2(g) + 2e-
At the anode … brown gas …
Br2
• At the cathode :
• Power supply pushes the electrons
into the cathode ; the cathode is
therefore negatively charged.
• This attracts the Pb2+ ions. When
Pb2+ ions touches the cathode, it
takes 2 electrons and changes into
lead atom.
• Pb2+ + 2e → Pb(l)
At the cathode … silvery
liquid… Pb
• In general, lead(II) bromide is split into
its component elements
• PbBr2 (l) → Pb (l) + Br2 (g)
• observations
• at anode : brown gas
• at cathode : silvery deposit of molten
lead
 SUMMARY
Electrolysis of molten ionic
compounds
Substance anode pdt cathode pdt
Brown fumes Silvery
PbBr2 of bromine deposits of
gas molten lead
KI Purple fumes molten
of iodine gas potassium

CaCl2 Yellowish Silvery

green fumes deposits of
of chlorine molten
gas calcium
 The Electrolysis of Molten Compounds
The Electrolysis of Molten Sodium Chloride
• At the cathode(-):
Na+(l) + e- Na(l) reduction
• At the anode(+):
2Cl-(l) Cl2(l) + 2e- oxidation
• Overall change:
2NaCl(l) 2Na(l) + Cl2(g)
The Electrolysis of Molten Compounds
Electrolysis of Other Molten Compounds
• When a molten compound is electrolysed, the
metal is produced at the cathode and the non-
metal is produced at the anode.
• When a molten ionic compound is electrolysed,
- a metal (from the positive ions) is produced at the
cathode, and
- a non-metal (from the negative ions) is produced at
the anode.
• Molten ionic compounds conduct electricity
because the ions can move. Solid ionic compounds
do not conduct electricity because the ions
cannot move.
• Inert electrodes do not react in the electrolysis.
 Electrolysis
of
aqueous ionic
compounds
(using inert
electrodes)
• In the electrolysis of molten
electrolytes, there are only
two kinds of ions.
• In aqueous solutions, there
are four kinds of ions; two
come from the electrolyte
and two from the water.
• Of the four ions in an
aqueous solution, only two
are discharged.
 1. Electrolysis of aq. H2SO4

• The ions present

• from H2SO4 H+ SO42-
• from water H+ OH-
Factors affecting Electrolysis

• Electrochemical series

• Concentration

• Type of electrode
 Electrolysis of aq. H2SO4
• At the anode
• OH- ions are discharged with ease
compared to SO42-
• 4OH- → O2 + 2H2O + 4e-
• oxygen gas is given off
 Electrolysis of aq. H2SO4
• At the cathode,
• only H+ ions are present
• 2H+ + 2e- → H2
• hydrogen gas is given off
 Electrolysis of aq. H2SO4
• With electrolysis of aqueous acids or
alkalis, the volume of hydrogen collected is
always twice the volume of oxygen
• H2 : O2 = 2 : 1
• essentially the elements of water are lost
during the electrolytic process …
• electrolysis of aqueous sulphuric acid is the
electrolysis of water
 Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions
Electrolysis of Dilute Sulphuric Acid
• At the cathode: Hydrogen ions
are discharged to produce
hydrogen gas.
2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)
• At the anode: Hydroxide ions
are discharged, producing
oxygen gas.
4OH-(aq) O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e-
• Overall change:
2H2O(l) 2H2(g) + O2(g)
• Changes in solution: Only water
decomposes.
Since water is a covalent compound, pure
or distilled water is a non-electrolyte. A few
drops of ionic compound like dilute
sulphuric acid are enough to make the
water become an electrolyte
The diagram shows the results of an electrolysis
experiment using inert electrodes. Which of the
following could liquid X be?

A. Aqueous copper(II) sulphate

B. Concentrated hydrochloric
acid
C. Dilute sulphuric acid
D. Distilled water
E. Ethanol
TYS : The diagram represents an
experiment in which an electric current
is being passed through dilute sulphuric
acid.
a) Give the formulae of all the
ions present in this solution
b) Construct an ionic equation
for the reaction at each
electrode.
c) Describe a test for each of
the electrode product.
TYS : The diagram represents an experiment in which an
electric current is being passed through dilute sulphuric
acid.
a) Give the formulae of all the ions present
in this solution
H+ OH- SO42-
b) Construct an ionic equation for the
reaction at each electrode.
Cathode: 2H+ + 2e- → H2
Anode: 4OH- → O2 + 2H2O + 4e-
c) Describe a test for each of the electrode
product.
H2 : It produces a pop sound with a
lighted splint
O2 : It relights a glowing splint
 2. Electrolysis of Concentrated
Sodium Chloride solution

• The ions present :

• from sodium chloride Na+ Cl-
• from water H+ OH-
Electrolysis of concentrated
NaCl
At the anode … Cl2
• At the anode,
• both Cl- and OH- migrate to the anode
• the Cl- are preferentially discharged
because of their higher concentration
• 2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e- (half-equation)
• chlorine gas is given off
At the cathode … H2
• At the cathode,
• both H+ and Na+ ions migrate to the
cathode
• but H+ is preferentially discharged as H+
is lower than Na+ in the electrochemical
series;
• it accepts electrons more readily
• 2H+ + 2e- → H2 (half-equation)
• hydrogen gas is given off
• Eventually,
• there will be a depletion of H+ and Cl-
ions in the solution
• the Na+ and OH- however remains
• so solution will become NaOH
• which is alkaline !
3. Electrolysis of Copper(II) Sulphate Solution
using Carbon Electrodes

• Ions present:
cations anions
From copper(II) Cu2+ (aq) SO42- (aq)
sulphate
From water H+(aq) OH-(aq)
 Type of Electrode

• Electrolysis of aq. copper(II) sulphate

• using carbon as electrodes
• the ions present

• from CuSO4 Cu2+ SO42-

• from water H+ OH-

 Electrolysis of aq. CuSO4
using carbon electrodes

• At the anode
• OH- being higher in concentration gets
discharged

• 4OH- → O2 + 2H2O + 4e-

• oxygen gas is given off

 Electrolysis of aq. CuSO4
using carbon electrodes

• At the cathode
• Cu2+ is discharged instead of H+
• as Cu2+ is lower than H+ in ecs
• Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu
• copper metal deposited
Electrolysis of Copper(II) Sulphate Solution
using Carbon Electrodes

• At the cathode: Copper metal is

deposited on the cathode.
• At the anode: Hydroxide ions
from water are discharged to
give oxygen gas.
• Changes: The blue colour slowly
fades as the concentration of
copper(II) ions decreases. The
solution becomes sulphuric acid.
REACTIVE ELECTRODES
Electrolysis of Copper(II) Sulphate Solution
using Copper Electrodes

• Ions present:
cations anions
From copper(II) Cu2+ (aq) SO42- (aq)
sulphate
From water H+(aq) OH-(aq)
 Electrolysis of aq. CuSO4
using copper electrodes
• copper being the same element as the ions
present in solution, it is a reactive electrode
• The anode will take part in the reaction
• the copper electrode dissolves into solution
to replenish the Cu2+ ions discharged at the
cathode
 Electrolysis of aq. CuSO4
using copper electrodes

• At the anode
• Cu → Cu2+ + 2e-
• copper anode dissolves
• At the cathode
• Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu
• copper metal deposited
Electrolysis of Copper(II) Sulphate Solution
using Copper Electrodes

• At the cathode: Copper metal is deposited on the

cathode.
• At the anode: The copper in the anode is oxidised to
form copper(II) ions.
• Observation: The copper cathode gains copper and
becomes larger. The copper anode is oxidised and
becomes smaller. The amount of copper(II) sulphate
and the colour of the solution do not change.
 Purification
Producing Pure Copper
• Impure copper is made the
anode.
• Pure copper is used as the
cathode.
• Pure copper from the anode
goes into the electrolyte.
• Pure copper is then deposited
on the cathode.
Producing Pure Copper
• Copper produced from
this process is used to
make electrical wires,
water pipes etc.
• During electrolysis of aqueous solutions, the
products at the electrodes can come from the
electrolyte or from the water. The product at the
cathode is a metal or hydrogen. The product at the
anode is a non-metal.
• Reactive metals are not formed at the cathode.
Instead, hydrogen from the water is produced.
• Sulphate and nitrate ions are not discharged at the
anode. Instead, oxygen from the water is produced.
• In concentrated solutions, halide ions and not
hydroxide ions are discharged; in dilute solutions,
hydroxide ions are discharged.
• When the anode is made of a metal, it often goes
into the electrolyte as the metal ions. For
example, a copper anode goes into the copper(II)
sulphate solution as copper(II) ions.
• Carbon and platinum are inert electrodes. They
do not react with or dissolve in the electrolyte.
• Copper is refined by the electrolysis of copper(II)
sulphate solution using copper electrodes.
 Aqueous copper(II) sulphate is electrolysed using
copper electrodes. The current is constant and the
anode is weighed at regular intervals. Which graph
is obtained when the mass of the anode is plotted
against time?
mass of

mass of

mass of

mass of
anode

anode

anode

anode
 Electroplating
• Electroplating is the coating of an object with a
thin layer of a metal by electrolysis.
Electroplating
• The electrolyte is copper(II) sulphate solution. The
object is made the cathode and a piece of copper
is used as the anode.
• At the anode: Cu(s) Cu2+ (aq) + 2e-
• At the cathode: Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
• The overall change is that copper is transferred
from the anode to the object.
• The copper(II) sulphate remains unchanged.
Electroplating
Electroplating of Steel
• Steel objects are electroplated to protect the steel
from corrosion and to give the object an attractive
appearance.
• The metals used to electroplate steel objects are
corrosion resistant, shiny and are usually low in the
reactivity series.
Electroplating
Electroplating of Steel
• Objects are electroplated to protect them from
corrosion and to give them an attractive
appearance.
• To electroplate an object with a metal:
- the object is made the cathode,
- the electroplating metal is made the anode, and
- the electrolyte is a solution of the metal ions.
Electric cells
 Electric Cells
• In electrolysis, electricity is used
to produce chemical changes.
• The reverse process - using
chemical changes to produce
electricity - occurs in electric
cells.
• A simple electric cell consists of
two electrodes placed in an
electrolyte.
20.6 Electric Cells
• The metal which is higher
up in the reactivity series
gives up electrons more
readily and is the negative
electrode.
• The metal lower down in
the reactivity series is the
positive electrode.
20.6 Electric Cells
How the Electric Cell Works
• At the zinc electrode, zinc atoms give up electrons
to produce zinc ions
Zn(s) Zn2+ (aq) + 2e-
• Electrons go onto the zinc rod to make it negative.
They move along connecting wire to the copper
electrode. Here, the sodium ions and hydrogen ions
are attracted to the electrons but only the
hydrogen ions are discharged.
2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)
• Overall equation:
Zn(s) + 2H+(aq) Zn2+ (aq) + H2(g)
20.6 Electric Cells
• Other electric cells:
– The voltage depends on the
positions of the two metals in
the Reactivity Series.
– The further apart the metals are
in the Reactivity Series, the
bigger is the voltage.
• Uses of cells:
– Electric cells are also known as
batteries. They are a convenient
form of portable energy.
• A simple electric cell consists of two different
metals and an electrolyte.
• The metal higher up in the reactivity series is the
negative electrode.
• The further apart the metals are in the reactivity
series, the bigger the voltage of the cell.