Electrolysis of aqueous

solutions
Objective 2
Objective 3
Objective 1 Predict the products of
Write half equations for
Describe electrolysis of the electrolysis of aqueous
the reactions occurring at
aqueous solutions. solutions containing a
the electrodes (HT).
single ionic compound.

Keywords: Anode, cathode, electrolysis, ion, reactivity, hydrogen, aqueous solution,

hydroxide, ionic

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 Predict the products of the
Describe electrolysis of aqueous
electrolysis of aqueous solutions
solutions.
containing a single ionic compound.
Write half equations for the
reactions occurring at the
electrodes (HT).

Keywords: Anode, cathode, electrolysis, ion, reactivity, hydrogen, aqueous solution, hydroxide, ionic

Review Quiz:

1.Aluminium oxide can be split using the process of ____________

2.The negative electrode is called the ____________
3.The positive electrode is called the ____________
4.The gain of electrons is called ____________
5.The loss of electrons is called ____________
6.____________ is used to reduce the ___________ in the electrolysis of aluminium
oxide.
7.Carbonates contain the elements ____________ and ____________
8.Acids contain the ____________ ion
9.Alkalis contain the ____________ ion
10. ____________ occurs when an acid is added to an alkali.
 Predict the products of the
Describe electrolysis of aqueous
electrolysis of aqueous solutions
solutions.
containing a single ionic compound.
Write half equations for the
reactions occurring at the
electrodes (HT).

Keywords: Anode, cathode, electrolysis, ion, reactivity, hydrogen, aqueous solution, hydroxide, ionic

Review Quiz:

1.Aluminium oxide can be split using the process of electrolysis.

2.The negative electrode is called the cathode
3.The positive electrode is called the anode
4.The gain of electrons is called reduction
5.The loss of electrons is called oxidation
6.Cryolite is used to reduce the temperature in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide.
7.Carbonates contain the elements carbon and oxygen.
8.Acids contain the hydrogen ion
9.Alkalis contain the hydroxide ion
10.Neutralisation occurs when an acid is added to an alkali.
What happens when the ionic compounds are dissolved in
water?

• Here, water molecules break up into HYDROGEN IONS, H+ and HYDROXIDE

IONS OH-
• H2O  H+ + OH-
• So, in an ionic solution (eg sodium chloride solution), there will be FOUR
types of ion present:
• TWO from the ionic compound and TWO from the water (H+ + OH-)
• Ions in Sodium chloride solution ,NaCl (aq) : Na+, Cl-, H+ , OH-

• `
Cl- OH-
H+ OH-
+ Cl- Na+ Cl-
H+ Na
OH- +
H - Na+
OH
 RULES FOR IONIC SOLUTIONS

+ ANODE - CATHODE
Attracts – ions (‘Anions’) Attracts + ions (‘Cations’)

If – ions are HA LIDE ie If + ions (metals) are MORE

REACTIVE than hydrogen
chloride Cl-
- K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe
bromide Br
iodide I- Then HYDROGEN is
produced
the HALOGEN is produced.
If – ions are NOT HALIDES
If + ions (metals) are LESS
Eg sulphate SO4 , 2-
REACTIVE than hydrogen
nitrate NO3- Cu, Ag, Au
carbonate CO32- Then the METAL is produced
OXYGEN is produced.
Electrolysis of aqueous ionic compounds

Step 1. List all the ions in the solution

Step 2. Use the rules to select the positive ion
(cation) that will be attracted at the negative
electrode.
Step 3. Write equations for the reaction at the
negative electrode (cathode)
Step 4. Use the rules to select the (negative ion
) anion that will be attracted at the positive
electrode (anode).
Step 5. List the products of the electrolysis
Describe electrolysis of sodium chloride solution

IONIC SOLUTION

H+ Cl- OH- + H+ OH-

Na

- H+
OH Na +
Cl- Na+ Cl-

Which ions gain or lose electrons (“get discharged”) and

which stay in solution?
IONIC SOLUTIONS: At the CATHODE
sodium ION, hydrogen ION,
H Hydrogen ATOM,
Na + missing 1 H+ missing 1
NEUTRAL
electron electron
+ which
ions?

As HYDROGEN is
LESS REACTIVE
than SODIUM, it is Na+ H+
discharged. The
sodium ions stay in H+ Na+
H
solution.

At CATHODE: 2H+ + 2e- H2

IONIC SOLUTIONS: At the CATHODE – halogen compounds
hydroxide ION,
chloride ION, chlorine ATOM,
Cl- extra 1 electron
O H from water Cl
extra electron NEUTRAL

If the – ion is a
H O O H
HALOGEN (Cl, Br, I)
it is discharged and
Cl-
Cl Cl
Cl-
chlorine (or Br or I)
H O O H is given off and the
Cl
Cl- Cl
Cl- OH - ions stay in
solution
which
ions? At ANODE: 2Cl- 2e- + Cl2
Products of the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution

Electrolysis of sodium chloride solution

produces Hydrogen, Chlorine and sodium
hydroxide.

List the uses of each product:

Substance Uses
Hydrogen
Chlorine
Sodium hydroxide
Plenary
IONIC SOLUTIONS: CATHODE – non halogen compounds
hydroxide ION, OH-
nitrate ION, extra Oxygen
-
NO3 1 electron O H from water, extra O atom
electron

- NO3-
If the – ion is NOT a halogen
NO3
(eg nitrate, sulphate etc) then
the HYDROXIDE ions from the
H O O H
water are discharged to make
WATER and OXYGEN gas.
NO3- NO3- The other ions stay in solution.

H O O H

which
ions? At CATHODE: 4OH- 2H2O + O2 + 4e-
IONIC SOLUTIONS: At the CATHODE
sodium ION, hydrogen ION,
H Hydrogen ATOM,
Na + missing 1 H+ missing 1
NEUTRAL
electron electron
+ which
ions?

As HYDROGEN is
LESS REACTIVE
than SODIUM, it is Na+ H+
discharged. The
sodium ions stay in H+ Na+
H
solution.

At CATHODE: 2H+ + 2e- H2

 RULES FOR IONIC SOLUTIONS

+ ANODE - CATHODE
Attracts – ions (‘Anions’) Attracts + ions (‘Cations’)

If – ions are HALOGENS ie If + ions (metals) are MORE

REACTIVE than hydrogen
chloride Cl-
- K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe
bromide Br
iodide I- Then HYDROGEN is
produced
the HALOGEN is produced.
If – ions are NOT HALOGENS
If + ions (metals) are LESS
Eg sulphate SO4 , 2-
REACTIVE than hydrogen
nitrate NO3- Cu, Ag, Au
carbonate CO32-
Then the METAL is produced
OXYGEN is produced.
(REACTIVITY: K+ Na+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Al3+ Zn2+ Fe3+ H+ Cu2+ Ag+ Au3+ )
Compound State Ions Cathode (-) Anode (+)

potassium chloride molten

aluminium oxide molten

copper chloride solution

sodium bromide solution

silver nitrate solution

potassium chloride solution

zinc sulphate solution

(REACTIVITY: K+ Na+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Al3+ Zn2+ Fe3+ H+ Cu2+ Ag+ Au3+ )
(REACTIVITY: K+ Na+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Al3+ Zn2+ Fe3+ H+ Cu2+ Ag+ Au3+ )
Compound State Ions Cathode (-) Anode (+)

potassium chloride molten K+ Cl- potassium chlorine

aluminium oxide molten Al3+ O2- aluminium oxygen

2+ - +
copper chloride solution Cu Cl H OH
-
copper chlorine

sodium bromide solution Na+ Br- H+ OH- hydrogen bromine

silver nitrate solution Ag+ NO3- H+ OH- silver oxygen

potassium chloride solution K+ Cl- H+ OH- hydrogen chlorine

zinc sulphate solution Zn+ SO42- H+ OH- hydrogen oxygen

(REACTIVITY: K+ Na+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Al3+ Zn2+ Fe3+ H+ Cu2+ Ag+ Au3+ )
 OILRIG

Oxidation is loss,
reduction is gain
Cl- Cl- ‘OILRIG’ Na+ Na+

Cl- Cl- Na+ Na+

- ions LOSING electrons + ions GAINING electrons

to become atoms is called to become atoms is called
‘OXIDATION’ ‘REDUCTION’
(even though oxygen may
not be involved)
Predict the products of electrolysis of aqueous solutions

Use the rules to predict the products of

electrolysis of aqueous solutions of:

1.Copper Chloride, CuCl2

2. Zinc bromide, ZnBr2
3. Zinc Iodide, ZnI2
4. Copper sulphate, CuSO4
Plenary
 Review of Learning

Objective 2
Objective 3
Objective 1 Predict the products of
Write half equations for
Describe electrolysis of the electrolysis of aqueous
the reactions occurring at
aqueous solutions. solutions containing a
the electrodes (HT).
single ionic compound.

Keywords: Anode, cathode, electrolysis, ion, reactivity, hydrogen, aqueous solution,

hydroxide, ionic

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