CHEMICAL EFECTS OF

ELECRIC CURRENT
Phase :-3

TOPIC-ELECTROLYTE
INTRODUCTION
The substances which furnish ions in a solution are known as
electrolytes.
An electrolyte is a substance that produces an
electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a polar solvent,
such as water.
 The dissolved electrolyte separates into cations and anions, which
disperse uniformly through the solvent. Electrically, such a
solution is neutral.
 If an electric potential is applied to such a solution, the cations of
the solution are drawn to the electrode that has an abundance of
electrons, while the anions are drawn to the electrode that has a
deficit of electrons.
 The movement of anions and cations in opposite directions within
the solution amounts to a current.
Substances, which do not ionize in aqueous solution into
positive and negative ions and hence do not conduct
electricity are known as NON- ELECTROLYTES . They
are covalent compounds and mainly organic in nature.
Example: Urea, Benzene, Sugar, Ethanol, Chloroform ,
ether etc.
A substance that dissociates into ions in solution
acquires the capacity to conduct electricity. Sodium,
potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and
phosphate are examples of electrolytes.
What is an electrode?

An electrode is a conductor of electricity that can carry electric

current into non-metals and other poor conductors of electricity.
What is an electrolyte?

A solution that breaks into its ions on passing electricity through

it is called an electrolyte. Electrolytes are used in the process of
electroplating.
What are an anode and cathode?

The positively charged electrode is called anode and the

negatively charged electrode is called cathode.
What are anions and cations?

An anion is a negatively charged ion and a cation is a positively

charged ion.