ELECTROLYSIS

1 define electrolysis, conductor, non-conductor, cathode, anode, cation, anion;

2
draw labelled diagram of electrolytic cell

•predict the products of electrolysis

3

•State applications of electrolysis

4

•Perform calculations using Faraday’s Law

5
 FUN FACT!
• Many surfaces can be coated with pure gold,
• other metal surfaces (most commonly done)
• wood
• porcelain
• Stone
• Plastic (least common but possible!)
LET’S WATCH AND SEE
What percentage of ‘gold’
jewelry is actually gold?
• Gold jewellery can have as low
as 0.05% gold (10K gold item)
• Gold plating is often
only 0.05%.
• The base metal for gold filled
jewelry can be brass, copper or
silver.
• With a little knowledge of
ELECTROLYSIS you can gold
plate your own jewellery !
DEFINIITION OF
ELECTROLYSIS

OTHER KEY TERMS

ELECTROLYTIC CELL
 COPY IN
DEFINITION NOTES
• Electrolysis is the breaking down of a compound by the
passage of electric current through it.

NB. Only some substances

allow the passage of
electricity.
Electrical conductors and non-conductors can be differentiated by using an electrical circuit se-up with a light bulb.
Conductors will cause a light bulb to glow while non-conductors will not
NON-CONDUCTORS
• Non-conductors do not allow the passage of
electricity.
• Also called insulators

• Examples of Insulators
• wood
• plastic
• rubber
• solid ionic compounds
• covalent compounds
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
• Conductors allow the passage of electricity.

• Examples
• Metals
• Impure Water
• Graphite
• Aqueous ionic compounds
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
vs
INSULATORS
 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS vs INSULATORS
• Electrical conduction is the movement or flow of charged
particles
• Mobile electrons and/or mobile ions are present in conductors.
ELECTROLYSIS and CONDUCTORS

SOLID
CONDUCTOR

LIQUID
CONDUCTOR
ELECTROLYSIS and CONDUCTORS
SOLID CONDUCTOR
• Usually a metal

EXAMPLES
• Copper
• Platinum
• Graphite (or carbon)***
LIQUID CONDUCTOR
• Usually ionic substances
(including salts, acids and
alkalis)
EXAMPLES
• Sodium chloride
• Copper sulphate
• Sulphuric acid
• Sodium hydroxide
 SOLID
CONDUCTORS IN
ELECTROLYSIS
 ELECTRO
• DES
These are solids that conduct
electricity by the movement
of mobile electrons.
• Usually metals
ELECTROD
ES
Delocalized electrons in
metals can flow and carry
electricity
ELECTROD
ES
Delocalized electrons in the
non-metal graphite can
flow and carry electricity
ELECTRODES
 ELECTRODES

•Are connected to
an energy source
and dipped in liquid
conductor
 LIQUID
CONDUCTORS IN
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
• These are liquid substances that conduct
electricity by the movement of free ions.
ELECTROLYTIC CONDUCTION
 LIQUID
CONDUCTS
ELECTRICITY

THE LIQUID DOES NOT

CONDUCT ELECTRICITY
ELECTROLYTES may be a salt, acid, alkali

Free, mobile ions

are available to
conduct electricity
ELECTROLYTES
1. Molten ionic
compounds
2. Ionic compounds
dissolved in water

Electrolytes contain
mobile positive and
negative ions that
allow the conduction
of electricity
ELECTROLYTES
• These are liquid substances that conduct
electricity by the movement of free ions.
ELECTROLYTES
1. Strong alkali
2. Weak alkalis

Electrolytes contain
mobile positive and
negative ions that
allow the conduction
of electricity
ELECTROLYTES
1. Strong acids
2. Weak acids

Electrolytes contain
mobile positive and
negative ions that
allow the conduction
of electricity
Classification of Electrolytes
1. Strong electrolytes – substances that are completely
ionized when dissolved or molten.
❑Strong acids: HCl, H2SO4, HNO3
❑Strong alkalis: NaOH, KOH
❑Salts: NaCl, PbBr2, CuSO4

2. Weak electrolytes – substances that are partially

ionized in when dissolved or molten.
❑Weak Acid: CH3COOH
❑Water
Strong electrolytes weak electrolytes
ELECTROLYSIS PROCESS?
The positive CATIONS in electrolyte are attracted to the negative CATHODE
The negative ANIONS in electrolyte are attracted to the positive ANODE

This causes the production of new, useful compounds.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL
ELECTROLYTIC CELL

l
ina
n al

m
(-) termi

ter
PRACTICE
DRAWING AND

(+)
battery LABELLING THIS

switch DIAGRAM !
light bulb
connecting wire Research the use of each
part of the cell and share
what you find! Annotate
ANODE (+)

the diagram in your book

electrodes

electrolyte (1 mol solution)

ELECTROLYSIS PROCESS?
• FROM ELECTROLYTE

• IONS ARE ATTRACTED TO OPPOSITELY CHARGED ELECTRODE

• ELECTROLYTE
DECOMPOSES TO FORM
NEW COMPOUNDS

• ELECTRONS FROM
ELECTRODES ARE
CICULATED THROUGH
CIRCUIT
QUICK REMINDER!

t
ca ion a nion
Discussion questions

(a) What is the charge of the

graphite electrodes A and B?

Electrode A – negative
Electrode B – positive

A B
(b) Based on the charge assigned,
what specific name is given to each
electrode?
Electrode A – cathode
Electrode B – anode
CATIONS MOVE TO THE CATHODE AND
ANIONS MOVE TO THE ANODE
Discussion questions
(a) Which electrode will the
copper (II) ions from the
electrolyte drift to?

Electrode A (cathode)
Cu2+ cations will go to negative
cathode

A B
(b) Which electrode will the
sulphate ions from the
electrolyte drift to?

Electrode B (anode)
SO42- anions will go to positive anode
REVIEW
❑Electrolysis is the breaking down of a compound due to the passage of
electric current.
❑Electrolysis is used for the plating , extraction and purification of metals,
and the production of chemicals such as chlorine and table salt.
❑Conductors – substances that allow passage of electricity due to the flow of
ions or electrons.
❑Electrolytes – conductors in the liquid state (eg acids, alkalis and dissolved
or molten salts. Have free mobile ions
❑Electrode – conductors in the solid state (graphite, copper). Have free
mobile electrons
❑Non-conductors – do not allow passage of electricity due to the absence of
free ions and/or electrons. (e.g. pure water, other covalent substances)
❑The electrolytic cell consists of energy source, electrodes (cathode(+) and
anode(-) and an electrolyte (source of cations and anions)