Chemical Effects of Electric Current

Electricity can produce chemical changes. This phenomenon is known as the chemical
effect of electric current. The chemical effects of electric current are used in various
applications such as electroplating, electrolysis, and the functioning of batteries.

1. Electrolysis:

 Electrolysis is the process of using an electric current to bring about a chemical change.
 It involves the decomposition of a chemical compound into its constituent elements or
ions.
 Electrolytes are substances that conduct electricity when dissolved in water or in a
molten state.
 Common examples of electrolytes include salt (sodium chloride) and water.

2. Electrolytes and Non-Electrolytes:

 Substances that allow electric current to pass through them are called electrolytes. They
are usually ionic compounds.
 Non-electrolytes are substances that do not allow electric current to pass through them.
They are usually covalent compounds.

3. Electrolysis of Water:

 Water can be electrolyzed into its constituent gases, hydrogen, and oxygen.
 The apparatus for electrolysis of water consists of two electrodes (usually platinum or
graphite) placed in a beaker containing water and connected to a battery or power
source.
 When an electric current is passed through water, hydrogen gas is liberated at the
cathode (negative electrode), and oxygen gas is liberated at the anode (positive
electrode).
 The chemical reaction at the cathode is: 2H₂O + 2e⁻ → 2OH⁻ + H₂(g)
 The chemical reaction at the anode is: 4OH⁻ → 2H₂O + O₂(g) + 4e⁻

4. Electroplating:

 Electroplating is the process of depositing a layer of one metal onto the surface of
another metal by means of electrolysis.
 It is used to improve the appearance, corrosion resistance, and durability of objects.
 Commonly electroplated metals include gold, silver, chromium, and nickel.

5. How Electroplating Works:

 In electroplating, the object to be plated (cathode) and a metal electrode (anode) are
immersed in an electrolyte solution.
 When electric current flows through the solution, metal ions from the anode are
reduced and deposited onto the cathode (object).
 For example, in electroplating with silver, the anode is made of silver, and silver ions are
reduced at the cathode to form a silver layer on the object.

6. Chemical Changes During Electroplating:

 At the anode, metal atoms from the anode become positively charged ions (e.g., Ag⁺ for
silver).
 At the cathode, these positively charged metal ions are reduced and deposited as a
solid metal layer.

7. Applications:

 Electroplating is used in jewelry making, silverware production, and in the

manufacturing of various products with a decorative or protective metal finish.

8. Conductivity of Solutions:

 Solutions of electrolytes conduct electricity due to the presence of ions that can carry an
electric charge.
 The conductivity of a solution depends on the concentration of ions in it.