C2.7 Electrolysis Flashcards
What happens when an ionic substance is melted or dissolved in water?
The ions are free to move about within the liquid or solution
What does passing an electric current through ionic substances that are molten do?
Breaks them down into elements
What is electrolysis?
The breaking down of substances into elements with electricity
What is the name of the substance broken down by electrolysis?
The electrolyte
During electrolysis, where do the positively charged ions move towards?
The negative electrode
During electrolysis, where do the negatively charged ions move towards?
The positive electrode
What is the name for the negative electrode?
The cathode
What is the name for the positive electrode?
The anode
What can electrolysis also be used to do?
Electroplate objects
What happens at the negative electrode?
Positively charged ions gain electrons (reduction)
What happens at the positive electrode?
Negatively charged ions lose electrons (oxidation)
If there is a mixture of ions, what does the products formed depend on?
The reactivity of the elements involved
What can reactions at electrodes be represented by?
Half equations
e.g. 2Cl- ===> Cl2 + 2e-
2Cl- - 2e- ===> Cl2
How is aluminium manufactured?
By the electrolysis of a molten mixture of aluminium oxide and cryolite
Where does aluminium and oxygen form?
At the negative electrode and oxygen at the positive electrode