Application of

Electrolytic Cells
Lesson 11
Electrolysis describes what happens in an electrolytic cell and
means to use electricity to make chemicals.

Many elements are made by electrolysis

Pb Al Zn Na K Li H2 Cl2 F2
I2 O2

Pb2+ + 2e- → Pb(s)

2Cl- → Cl2(g) + 2e-
This is sometimes called electrowinning- the element is won from its
ion
Making Aluminum by Electrolysis
Alcan (70,000 employees in 55 countries)
Kitimat B.C. 2.7 MT 7 % world production
Aluminum
Aluminum Production by Electrolysis

Name of the Ore imported from (Guinea and Brazil)

Bauxite
Al2O3.3H2O
Heating drives off the water
Al2O3.3H2O + Heat → Al2O3 + 3H2O

Melting point of Bauxite is 2045 0C

This is too hot!

Cryolite is added
Lowers the melting point to 1000 0C
Reduction of water

You cannot reduce

Aluminum in water!
It must be molten!
Liquid Al floats to the top and is removed
DC Power
- + Oxygen gas
C C
- +
Al3+
Reduction Oxidation
O2-
Cathode Anode
Al3+ + 3e- → Al(s) Al2O3(l) O2- → 1/2O2(g) + 2e-

Cation Cathode Reduction Anion Anode Oxidation

 Electroplating
Au plating a Cu penny
Electroplating is the process of reducing a metal on to the surface of another
Electrolyte: Must contain the ion of the metal that plates
Cathode: The metal to be covered with a new metal
Anode: Metal to be plated on top the other metal
DC Power
- +
e -
-
Reduction Au
Cathode Au+ +
Au+ + e- → Au(s) Cu
CN- Oxidation
Anode
Au(s) → Au+ + 1e-
 +ve
-ve
stainless steel or Au

AuCN
Au plated
Copper Ring Gold Plated
Tanya’s Ring Gold Plated
 Electroplating
Ag plating a Loonie

DC Power
- +
e -
-
Reduction Ag
Cathode Ag+ +
Ag+ + e- → Ag(s) $1
NO3- Oxidation
Anode
Ag(s) → Ag+ + 1e-
Electrorefinning Lead
Trail, B.C.
Teck 16 mines in BC
Major World Producer of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Coal
Lead Refinery-Trail
 The Electrorefinning of Lead

Electrorefining is the process of purifying a metal by electrolysis.

The electrolyte must contain Pb
Impure metal is oxidized at the anode and pure metal is reduced at the cathode.
This is the same as electroplating.
DC Power
- +

Cathode: Pure Pb
Anode: Impure Pb
-
Reduction Pb2+
Cathode NO3-
Pb2+ + 2e- → Pb(s)
The impurities in Pb are:
Au
Ag
Zn
 At the Anode
Au does not oxidize
The voltage is controlled so that:

Ag does not oxidize

Pb oxidizes

Zn oxidizes
 At the Cathode

The voltage is controlled so that:

Pb2+ reduces

Zn2+ does not reduce

 The Electrorefinning of Lead
Electrorefining is the process of purifying a metal by electrolysis.
The electrolyte must contain Pb
Impure metal is oxidized at the anode and pure metal is reduced at the cathode.
This is the same as electroplating.
DC Power
- +

Cathode: Pure Pb Anode: Impure Pb

- +
Reduction Pb2+ Oxidation
Cathode NO3- Zn2+ Anode
Pb2+ + 2e- → Pb(s) Zn(s) → Zn2+ + 2e-
Au Ag Pb(s) → Pb2+ + 2e-

Solid Au and Cu are released from the anode and fall to the bottom
Video of the thermite reaction used to make Iron

The Thermite reaction is very exothermic and

produces white hot molten iron.

Fe2O3 + 2Al(s) → Al2O3(s) + 2Fe(l) + energy