BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)

Section 2: Chemistry
Chemistry 12: Electrolysis

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
 Chemistry 12: Electrolysis

Key Definitions for Electrolysis

● Electrolyte: ​Molten or aqueous solution containing the ionic compound.

○ The ​electrolyte contains free ions,​ and this is essential for electrolysis to be
able to occur. Free ions ​conduct the electricity, ​and allow a current to flow; they
‘complete the circuit’.
● Electrode​: ​A solid electricity conductor which is in contact with the ionic solution. They
can be positively or negatively charged and attract the oppositely charged ions.
● Anode:​ The​ positively-charged ​electrode.
● Cathode:​ The ​negatively-charged​ electrode.
● Anion:​ Negative ion.
● Cation:​ Positive ion.
● Potential difference:​ This is the difference in electrical charge between two points in a
circuit.

The Process of Electrolysis

The ​anode ​and ​cathode ​are connected to a source

of electricity. Together, the anode, electrode and
cathode​ form a circuit​ which allows ​current​ to flow.
The current is simply a flow of electrons, and it sets
up a ​potential difference​.
➔ The potential difference in the circuit causes
the ​cathode to become negatively charged
and the anode to become positively
charged.
➔ Ions in the ​electrolyte​ will be attracted to the
electrode of the opposite charge: the ​anode
or ​cathode​. Anions in the solution will move
towards the anode and cations will be
attracted to the cathode.
➔ At the electrodes, the ions will lose or gain
electrons to obtain a full outer hell and
become more stable. ​Anions lose electrons
at the ​anode ​to become ​atoms ​or ​molecules​, with no overall charge. Loss of electrons
is oxidation and so anions are oxidised. ​ ​For example, Cl​-​ ions move to the anode where
they lose electrons to become Cl atoms or Cl​2​ molecules.
○ Cations gain electrons ​at the ​cathode​ to become​ atoms ​or ​molecules​, with no
overall charge. Gain of electrons is reduction and so cations are reduced. For
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
 ​
example, H​+ ions move to the cathode where they gain electrons to become H
molecules.
● The atoms or molecules are often released as a gas or form a solid on the surface of the
electrode, causing an increase in the weight and thickness of the electrode.

Example 1: Electrolysis of Sodium Chloride

Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride yields hydrogen and chloride, with aqueous sodium
hydroxide remaining in solution.

​
● The water releases H​+ ions.
● Cations​ are attracted to the ​cathode​.
○ Cations are positive ions and therefore
​
H​+ is a cation.
○ The ​cathode is the negative
electrode​.
● At the cathode, cations are ​reduced​, which
means that they ​gain electrons​. This
​
converts the H​+ ion which was released by the
water into hydrogen, which leaves the NaCl
solution as hydrogen gas.

Half equation for reactions occurring at the cathode:

2H​+​ ​+ 2e​-​ → H​2(g)

● Anions​ are attracted to the ​anode​.

○ Anions are negative ions and therefore Cl​-​ is an anion.
○ The ​anode is the positive electrode​.
● At the anode, anions are ​oxidised​, which means that they ​lose electrons​.
○ This converts the Cl​-​ ion into chlorine, which leaves the NaCl solution as chlorine
gas.

Half equation for reactions occurring at the anode:

2Cl​-​ → Cl​2​ + 2e​-

What happens to the sodium ions?

Sodium ions are positive ions. So why do they not move to the cathode with the hydrogen ions?
➔ The Na​+​ ions will stay in the solution because it is ​more reactive than hydrogen​ and so
​
the Na​+​ ion will stay as an ion and the H​+ ions will move to the cathode to form hydrogen.
➔ However, if the metal ion was less reactive than hydrogen, it would move to the cathode
and form the metal atom.
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
Whether hydrogen or a metal is produced at the cathode therefore depends on the ​reactivity
series​.
➔ If the metal is less reactive than hydrogen, then the metal will be produced at the
cathode.
➔ If the metal is more reactive than hydrogen, then hydrogen will be produced at the
cathode.

Most Reactive Potassium

Sodium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc
Iron
Hydrogen
Least Copper
Reactive Silver
Gold

The hydroxide ions OH​-​ released from the water also stay behind in solution and react with the
Na​+​ ions left behind, forming NaOH in solution.

Example 2: Electrolysis of Hydrochloric acid

Similarly to the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride, the electrolysis of HCl also produces
hydrogen and chlorine gas.

● H​+​ ions from HCl are attracted to the cathode. Two H​+​ ions accept 1 e​-​ to become a H​2
molecule.
○ Half equation for reaction occurring at the cathode:
2H​+​ +2e​-​ → H​2

● Cl​-​ ions from HCl are attracted to the anode. 2 Cl​-​ ions lose 1e​-​ each to form a Cl​2
molecule.
○ Half equation for reaction occurring at the anode:
2Cl​-​ → Cl​2​ + 2e​-

https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
Example 3: Electrolysis of Molten Lead Bromide

When salts such as lead bromide are ​molten​, they will

conduct electricity​.
➔ The salt must be molten because the salt is the
electrolyte and in order for the ions in the salt
to move to the electrodes the ions in the
electrolyte must be ​free to move​.
➔ Ions are only free to move in ​aqueous
solutions​ or in ​molten liquids​.

In order to make such salts molten, heat must be

applied to the salt which will turn the salt into a liquid
form. The ions are now free to move and so can move
to the electrodes.

● Lead ions, Pb​2+​ are ​positive ions​ and so are

attracted to the ​cathode​ (the negative
electrode).
● Here, the Pb​2+​ ions are ​reduced​, which means
they ​gain electrons​.
○ Each Pb​2+​ ion gains 2e​-​ to form a lead atom.

Half equation for the reaction occurring at the cathode:

Pb​2+​ + 2e​-​ → Pb

● Bromide ions, Br​-​, are ​negative ions​ and so are ​attracted to the anode​ (the positive
electrode).
● Here, the Br​-​ ions are ​oxidised​, which means they l​ose electrons​.
○ Two bromide ions lose one electron each to become one Br​2​ molecule.

Half equation for the reaction occurring at the cathode:

2Br​-​ → Br​2​+ 2e​-

Electroplating

Electroplating​ is the process of using ​electrolysis​ to put a thin layer of metal onto another
metal. There are many benefits to electroplating, the main benefits being to improve the
appearance of the metal and to make it more resistant to corrosion and so by electroplating, the
metal can be protected.

https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
When electroplating:
● The ​metal ions of the plating metal​ which are in the electrolyte solution will be
attracted to the cathode​.
○ This is because the ​cathode is negatively charged ​and so will ​attract the
positively charged metal ions​.
● As the metal ions move to the cathode, they will ​gain electrons​ and ​lose their charge​,
allowing them to be ​deposited​ onto the cathode.
● Because the cathode is the original metal you wish to plate, the plating metal is
deposited on top of the original metal.
● As the plating metal ions leave the electrolyte solution, more enter the solution from the
anode to replace those lost that were deposited onto the cathode.

This means:
● The ​anode​ should be the ​plating metal​, i.e. the metal you wish to cover the other metal
in.
● The ​cathode​ should be the ​original metal​.
● The ​electrolyte​ needs to contain ions of the ​plating metal​.

For example​, if you wanted to ​electroplate brass cutlery with silver​.

● The anode would need to be silver
● The cathode would be the brass
● A silver nitrate solution could be used for the electrolyte.

Example: Electroplating Copper onto metals

Anode​: Copper (the electroplating metal)

Cathode​: Metal to be electroplated
Electrolyte​: Copper sulfate solution

● Copper ions from the electrolyte are attracted to the cathode. Here they gain electrons to
become copper atoms, which are deposited on the cathode, causing this electrode to
gain mass.
● Copper ions leave the anode to enter the electrolyte and replace the lost copper ions
and therefore the anode decreases in mass.

Half reactions​:

At the anode: ​Cu​(s)​ → Cu​2+​(aq)​ + 2e​-

At the cathode: ​Cu​2+​(aq)​ + 2e​-​ → Cu​(s)

https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)

Section 2: Chemistry
Questions by Topic
C12 - Electrolysis

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt- d https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
 C12: Electrolysis - Question by Topic
(​Mark Scheme and explanations at the end)

1 A student wishes to electroplate a silver chain with gold.

What should the arrangement of electrodes be?

A Chain at anode, gold at cathode, electrolyte solution of gold ions

B Chain at anode, gold at cathode, electrolyte solution of sodium chloride
C Chain at cathode, gold at anode, electrolyte solution of gold ions
D Chain at cathode, gold at anode, electrolyte solution of sodium chloride
E Chain at cathode, copper at anode, electrolyte solution of gold ions
F Chain at anode, copper at cathode, electrolyte solution of sodium chloride

2 Impure copper can be purified by electrolysis.

What is the electrolyte in this process, and, when aqueous NaOH is added to the
electrolyte, what colour is observed?

A Copper carbonate, light blue

B Copper carbonate, yellow
C Water, yellow
D Copper sulfate, light blue
E Copper sulfate, green

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt- d https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
3 A chemist wishes to set up an electrolysis chamber with an iron cathode. However, she
would like to ensure that the iron cathode does not corrode over time. Which of the
following are ​not ​valid method(s) to do so?

1 Galvanising the iron cathode in gold.

2 Connecting a secondary anode next to the iron cathode, made of
magnesium.
3 Use a solid electrolyte when performing the electrolysis.

A All of the above.

B 1 and 3 only
C 2 only
D 1 and 2 only
E 1 only
F 2 and 3 only

4 A scientist sets up electrolysis experiment 1 with molten Sodium Chloride and

electrolysis experiment 2 with aqueous Sodium Chloride.

Which of the following lines in the table correctly describes the products of each
reaction?

Experiment 1 - Experiment 1 - Experiment 2 - Experiment 2 -

Anode Cathode Anode Cathode

A Sodium Chlorine Hydrogen Chlorine

B Chlorine Sodium Chloride Sodium

C Chlorine Hydrogen Chlorine Hydrogen

D Chlorine Sodium Chlorine Hydrogen

E Chlorine Hydrogen Chlorine Sodium

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt- d https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
5 Which line of the table correctly defines each of the terms?

Anode Cathode Anion Cation

A The positive The negative A negative ion A positive ion

electrode electrode

B The negative The positive A negative ion A positive ion

electrode electrode

C The negative The positive A positive ion A negative ion

electrode electrode

D The positive The negative A positive ion A negative ion

electrode electrode

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt- d https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
 Answers and Explanations

1 The answer is C

Gold ions in the solution move towards the negative cathode (chain) and are reduced to
metallic gold. This covers the chain, electroplating it. Oxidation at the positive gold anode
dissolves it, replenishing the solution with gold ions.

2 The answer is D

Copper sulfate is used in this process as the electrolyte. Copper ions from the impure
copper at the anode are liberated, meaning that if aqueous NaOH is added, a light blue
precipitate of Cu(OH)​2​ is formed in solution.

3 The answer is B

Only statement 2 is correct.

Statement 1 incorrect.​ Galvanising the electrode would work but only if it is done
with a more reactive metal, such as zinc. Gold is less
reactive than iron, so it would not corrode first and would not protect
the iron.
Statement 2 is known as sacrificial corrosion​, and placing a more reactive
metal next to a less reactive metal is a recognised method of
protecting the less reactive metal from corrosion.
Statement 3 is incorrect​ - electrolytes must be molten or in solution to ensure
the flow of ions, which can carry a current through the cell.

4 The answer is D

Experiment 1 is of ​molten​ ​NaCl. This means that the products will be sodium at the
cathode and chlorine at the anode. Experiment 2 is of ​aqueous​ ​NaCl. As sodium is
more​ ​reactive than hydrogen, hydrogen gas forms at the cathode and chlorine at the
anode. This is option D.

5 The answer is A

This is the only line with the definitions in the correct order. For a few more helpful
electrolysis definitions, look at the ​Chemistry Topic 12 guide.

https://bit.ly/pmt-cc
https://bit.ly/pmt- d https://bit.ly/pmt-cc