eTOPIC 8 ELECTROCHEMISTRY

8.5 Electrolysis

1. Electrolytic cell

2. Electrolysis is a chemical process that uses electricity for a non-spontaneous redox

reaction to occur.

Electrolysis of molten salts

Electrolysis of water
Electrolysis of Aqueous Salt Solutions

A. Electrolysis of molten salts

Electrolysis of molten salts (NaCl)

Diagram
Cation:
Anion:
Anode:
Cathode:

Overall:
 Electrolysis of molten salts (AlCl3)
Diagram
Cation:
Anion:
Anode:
Cathode:

Overall:

B. Electrolysis of water

Electrolysis of water
Diagram
Cation:
Anion:
Anode:
Cathode:

Overall:

3.Factors affecting the products of electrolysis:

 1. Standard Electrode Potential, Eθ

When inert electrodes are used during electrolysis

- Cation with ……………………………… will be discharged first at the cathode .

- Anion with ……………………………… will be discharged first at the anode.

Exanple: Cations:
Zn2+ (aq) + 2e Zn(s) Eθ = -0.76 V
Cu 2+ (aq) + 2e Cu (s) Eθ = +0.34V

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Exanple: Anions:
Br2(aq) + 2e 2Br- (aq) Eθ = +1.09 V
Cl2(aq) + 2e 2Cl- (aq) Eθ = +1.36 V

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

C. Electrolysis of dilute aqueous NaCI

Electrolysis of dilute aqueous NaCl

Diagram
Cations:
Anions:
Anode:

Cathode:

Observations: Overall:

D. Electrolysis of aqueous Na2SO4

 Electrolysis of aqueous Na2SO4
Diagram
Cations:
Anions:
Anode:

Cathode:
Observations:
Overall:

Factors affecting the products of electrolysis:

2. Concentration
If the difference between the Eθ values of two competing ions is not large, the ion which occurs
in the higher concentration is discharged.

E. Electrolysis of concentration NaCI

Electrolysis of aqueous Na2SO4
Diagram
Cations:
Anions:
Anode:

Cathode:
Observations:
Overall:

Factors affecting the products of electrolysis:

3. Nature of electrodes (active or inert)
 F. Electrolysis of aqueous CuSO4 using inert carbon electrodes
Electrolysis of aqueous CuSO4
Diagram

G. Electrolysis of aqueous CuSO4 using inert copper electrodes

Electrolysis of aqueous CuSO4
Diagram

4. Faraday’s Law
Faraday’s first law
States that the quantity of ……………………………. at an electrode is …………………………

to the …………………………………….. supplied.

Faraday’s Second law

The amount of substances produced during electrolysis by the same amount of electricity is
…………………………………………………………………………………

QUESTIONS

1. Mg2+ (molten) + 2e Mg(l)

Calculate the mass of magnesium that can be produced by supplying 1.00 F to the electrode.

2. An aqueous solution of CuSO4 is electrolysed using acurrent of 0.150 A for 5 hours.

Calculate the mass of copper deposited at the cathode.

3. Consider the electrolysis of molten barium chloride, BaCl2

(a) Write the half-reactions of the electrolysis

(b) How many grams of barium metal can be produced by supplying 0.50 A for 30
monutes?
4. An aqueous solution of a platinum salt is electrolyzed at a current of 2.50 A for 2.00
hours. As a result, 9.09 g of metallic Pt are formed at the cathode. Calculate the charge on
the Pt ions in this solution.

5. During an electrolysis experiment, 50.0 g silver is deposited on the cathode from an

aqueous solution of AgNO3. At the same time, oxygen is liberated at the carbon anode.
a) Write the half-reaction at anode and cathode.
b) Calculate the volume of oxygen gas liberated at STP.

6. An experiment is carried out to electrolyse molten sodium chloride.

(a) Calculate the mass of sodium deposited when a current of 1.5 A is passed through the
electrolyte for 3.0 hours.
(b) Calculate the time taken to deposit 8.0 g of sodium, Na, if a current of 4 A is used.
(c) A certain quantity of electricity used deposited 6.0 g of Na. Calculate the mass of
chlorine, Cl2, evolved at the anode in the same time.