ELECTROLYSIS

Table of contents

01 Definitions & things 03 Extraction of

to remember aluminum

02 Molten salts 04 Aqueous solutions

 Table of contents

05 Electrolysis of 07 Extraction of pure

brine copper

06 Electroplating 08 Fuel cells

01
Definitions & things to
remember
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is the
decomposition of an ionic
compound, when in molten or
aqueous state by the passage
of electric current.
 Definitions
Electrolyte - a substance that dissociates in water into charged particles called
ions and can conduct an electric current.

Electrode - Electrodes are conductors by which electrons flow through to generate

a current.

Positively charged ions are called cations

Negatively charged ions are called anions.

Ionic compounds can be broken down only in molten or aqueous solution as ions
can move freely when in these solutions. They are strongly held in a lattice in solid
form

Covalent compounds cannot undergo electrolysis as they do not contain ions.

 Things to remember
The anode is positive which means non-metals are
disposed at the anode

The cathode is negative which means metals are

disposed at the cathode

Reduction occurs at cathode while oxidation occurs at

the anode (OILRIG)

The direction of electron transfer is from negative to

positive which means the direction of the current is
from positive to negative
The electrochemical
series
 02
Molten Salts
Electrolysis of molten lead bromide

● Uses graphite electrodes

● PbBr2 → Pb2+ + 2Br-
● Anode - 2Br- → Br2 +2e-
● Cathode - Pb2+ + 2e- → Pb

What observations can we

observe at the anode?
03
Extraction of aluminum
Extraction of aluminum
● Bauxite - Ore of aluminium
● Bauxite is treated using sodium hydroxide to obtain alumina(Al2O3) which is
then electrolysed.
● Molten cryolite is added to aluminium oxide to reduce melting point and
make the process cost effective.
● Aluminium ions receive electrons at the negative electrode and are reduced
to aluminium atoms:
Al + 3e– → Al (reduction – gain electrons)
3+

● The molten aluminium sinks to the bottom of the cell, where it is tapped off.
● Oxide ions lose electrons at the positive electrodes and are oxidised to
oxygen gas:

2O2– → O2 + 4e– (oxidation – lose electrons)

 Continuation

Carbon anodes burn away as

oxygen produces at the anode
reacts with graphite anodes to
form CO2.

The equation - C + O2 →CO2

04
Aqueous
solutions
 Aqueous solutions:
Rules for the electrolysis of aqueous solutions

At cathode (-) : metal or hydrogen forms.

❖ If metal is more reactive than hydrogen then its ions stay in solution &
hydrogen bubbles off (this is for both conc. And dilute solutions)
❖ If metal is less reactive than hydrogen, then metal forms.

At anode (+) : a non metal other than hydrogen forms

❖ If it is concentrated solution of a halide than chlorine, bromine or
iodine form
❖ If the halide solution is dilute or there is no halide then oxygen forms
 Aqueous solutions

Dilute sulfuric acid:

Ions present :H+, SO42-, OH-
At the cathode
● H+ ions are attracted to cathode and are reduced.
2H+(aq) + 2e- —> H2 (g)
At anode
● Both SO42- & OH- will be attracted to the anode but OH- are
preferentially discharged.
4OH-(aq) —>2H2O (l) +O2(g) + 4e-
2H2O (l) —> 4H- + O2(g)+ 4e-
 Aqueous solutions
Write the half ionic equations for the following processes

At cathode At anode

Concentrated HCl

Dilute HCl

Dilute NaCl

Dilute & Concentrated

copper (II) sulphate
 Aqueous solutions
Here are the answers

At cathode At anode

Concentrated HCl

Dilute HCl

Dilute NaCl

Dilute & Concentrated

copper (II) sulphate
 05
ELECTROLYSIS
OF BRINE
 Chlor alkali process
Electrolysis of brine (concentrated NaCl) is known as chlor alkali process. The 3
products of this process are:

Sodium Chlorine Hydrogen

hydroxide
Uses: soap, paper, Uses: disinfectants, Uses: ammonia, food
textiles HCl production, industry, rocket fuel
making plastics
 Chlor alkali process

This process is usually carried out in a

membrane cell.
The membrane selectively allows Na+ and
water to pass through but prevent products
from moving between compartments.
● Anode

● Cathode
 06
ELECTROPLATING
 Electroplating:

● This is the process when one metal is coated with another metal
● The anode in this experiment is the coating of the object
● The cathode is the object itself
● The electrolyte is an aqueous solution containing a sobule salt of the
metal which is going to be the coating
Uses of electroplating
● It increases the resistance of the object
● It also improves the appearance of the object
 07
Pure copper
extractions
 Pure copper extractions
● Copper is a very good conductor of
electricity and has a property of high
thermal conductivity. However if there are
impurities present in the metal, its
conductivity decreases. To ensure this level of
purity, the newly extracted copper has to be
purified by electrolysis
● The impure copper will be the anode.
● The cathode is pure copper and it weighs
less compared to the anode. This is also
known as the active electrode
● The electrolyte is a solution of copper (II)
sulfate and improve the electrical
conductivity of the solution
 The process
● The copper ore is roasted and smelted. This copper is known as blister copper
which need to be refined electrically
● The ions present in the solution-
○ H+
○ OH-
○ Cu2+
○ SO42-
● At the anode, no oxygen is produced but the copper anode oxidises and then
dissolves.
● The equation - Cu → Cu2+ +2e-. The copper ions are in blue colour and is
discharged into the electrolyte solution
● The impurities fall down to the bottom of the cell. This is a slime containing
various precious metals such as silver.
● At the cathode, the copper gets reduced and is deposited on the cathode
itself.
● The equation - Cu2+ +2e-→ Cu
● The mass of the gained copper at the cathode = The mass of the copper lost
at the anode
08
FUEL CELLS
FUEL CELLS

Cathode:

Anode:

Overall:
 Fuel Cells
Advantages
● They do not produce any
pollution: the only product is
water whereas petrol engines
produce carbon dioxide, and
oxides of nitrogen
● No power is lost in
transmission as there are no
moving parts, unlike an
internal combustion engine
● Quieter so less noise
pollution compared to a
petrol engine
Disadvantages
● Hydrogen is more difficult and
expensive to store compared to
petrol as it is very flammable
and easily explodes when under
pressure
● There are only a small number
of hydrogen filling stations
across the country
● Hydrogen is often obtained by
methods that involve the
combustion of fossil fuels,
therefore releasing carbon
dioxide and other pollutants
into the atmosphere
Thank
you