Electricity and Chemistry

Electrolysis:
The breakdown of an ionic compound,molten or in aqueous solution,by the passage of electricity
Electrolyte: A liquid that conducts electricity as a result of the presence of positive and negative
ions.
Electrode: A conductor that emits or collects electrons in a cell. Usually an inert material such as
platinum or graphite are used. There are two electrodes Cathode and Anode
At the anode (+) negative ions discharge by losing electrons to form neutral species. The process is
oxidation.
At the cathode (-) positive ions discharge by gaining electrons to form neutral species. Cathode
reactions are reduction reactions.

Electrolysis of Molten Lead(II) bromide (PbBr2):

The electrolysis of molten salt results in two ions positive ion and negative ion.
positive ion move towards the cathode (-) while negative ion move towards the anode (+)
Molten lead bromide is electrolyzed to form lead at the cathode and bromine at the anode:

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Electrolysis of Solution:
In electrolysis of solution more than one type of cation or anion are produced but only one
cation and one anion are preferentially discharged. This is known as the selective discharge of
ions. 
The ions discharged and hence the products formed depend on two factors:
1. The position of the metal (producing the cation) in the reactivity series. 
2. The concentration of the anion in the electrolyte. 

Reactivity series

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Selective discharge of cations during electrolysis:
The cations of an element lower in the reactivity series are discharged at the cathode in preference
to cations above it in reactivity series in the solution.
Selective discharge of anions during electrolysis:
That anion will discharged at the anode which is present in greater concentration compare to other
anion in the solution. If Sulphate (SO42-) and nitrate (NO3-) ions are present in solution these will
remain in the solution and are not discharged during electrolysis.
Electrolysis of saturated Sodium Chloride Solution:
When concentrated aqueous solution of NaCl is added to the cell. NaCl splits into Na + and Cl-. And
water splits into H+ (aq) and OH- (aq) so an aqueous solution of sodium chloride contains four
different types of ions. They are
 Ions from sodium chloride Na+ (aq) and Cl- (aq)
 Ions from water H+ (aq) and OH- (aq)
 With the passage of electric current the Na + ions of NaCl and H+ ions of H2O move towards
the cathodes.
 H+ have greater tendency to pick up electrons from cathode to form H 2 gas and liberated at
outlets.
 While Cl- ions move towards the anode lose electrons there and convert into Cl 2 gas and
liberated through outlets.
 Na+ ions are not reduced instead they combine with OH- ions of H2O to form NaOH which is
collected at the bottom of the cell.
 Reaction occurs at Cathodes:
2H+ + 2e-  H2
 Reaction occurs at Anode:
2Cl-  Cl2 + 2e-
Na + ions and an OH- remains in the solution which react together and produces NaOH
Na+ + OH-  NaOH
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Testing
Test for hydrogen: Lighted splint
Observation: 'pop' sound Produce
Test for chlorine  drop a damp piece of blue litmus paper into the test tube.
Observation: turn to red then colourless because the chlorine will bleach it.
Test for electrolyte solution: Sodium hydroxide is an alkaline solution so we will use red litmus
paper or universal indicator.
Observation: Turning red litmus paper blue or universal indicator turns the solution blue