Electrochemistry

Electrolysis

Electricity Chemical change

Electrolysis
• Breathing down by electricity
• Breaking down of ionic compounds
Ionic compounds
• Lattice arrangement( in solid state ions are fixed at their position)
• Solid
• High M.P and B.P
• Soluble in water
• Electrolytes ( can only conduct electricity when dissolve in water or in
molten state) due to presence of free ions.
Identity electrolytes/non
electrolytes/conductors/insulators
• Wood
• Copper(II)sulphate (s)
• Mercury
• Graphite
• Alcohol
• Plastic
• Sulfuric acid
• Sodium chloride (l)
 Components of electrolytic cells

Battery: to provide D.C current. It flows in one direction from

positive to negative terminal of the battery
Electrodes:: any conducting material e.g metals, graphite

Electrolyte: the ionic compound which we want to decompose.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqmKqpA61GI&t=11s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqmKqpA61GI&t=11s
Electrolysis of concentrated
copper(II)chloride
• Ions present Cu2+, Cl-, H+, OH-
• Ions discharge Cu2+, Cl-
• Reaction at cathode Cu2+ + 2e- = Cu
• Observation pink metal deposits at cathode
• Reaction at anode 2Cl- = 2e- + Cl2
• Observation yellowish green gas formed at cathode
• Test for identification of gas:
• Effect on electrolyte The blue color of electrolyte fades away
• Solution becomes dilute
 An electrode becomes active when the
metal of which it is made of is dipped in
its own salt solution e.g Cu dipped in
CuSO4/CuCl2

Only anode becomes active electrode

Electroplating
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhCU_jBiOA electroplating
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqmKqpA61GI&t=11s
electrorefining
Reduction is the gain of electrons
And oxidation is the loss of electrons
 Electrochemical cell
• simple electrochemical cell can be made
by dipping two different pieces of
metal (must be of different reactivity -
different potential), connected by a wire,
into a solution of ions e.g. a salt or dilute
acid which will act as an electrolyte
The more reactive metal, magnesium, dissolves in the
electrolyte and becomes Mg2+ ions, thereby producing
Sulfuric acid
electrons. As electrons are produced, the magnesium act
as negative electrode So, overall the overall redox reaction is ...
at the (–) electrode Mg(s)  ==> Mg2+(aq)  + 2e–(magnesium 2H+(aq) + Mg(s) ==> Mg2+(aq) + H2(g) 
atoms oxidised) oxidation takes place at anode so it is
anode
The overall reaction is therefore the same as
These electrons travel to copper electrode and produce displacement reaction, and it is a redox reaction
bubbles of hydrogen gas at this electrode. As electrons are involving electron transfer and the movement of the
taken in, the copper is positive electrode. electrons through the external wire to the bulb or
at the (+) electrode 2H+(aq) + 2e– ==> H2(g) (hydrogen ions voltmeter etc. forms the working electric current.
reduced on the surface of the copper) reduction takes place
at cathode so it is cathode.