C4: Electrolysis and Electrochemical Series Flashcards
What does the word electrolysis mean?
Breaking down of substances using electricity
in electrolysis, which electrodes will the cations and anions migrate to?
differences between metallic conduction and conduction in an electrolyte
- Electric current in a metal is carried by (1)_______ , while in an electrolyte it is carried by (2)_________.
- Conduction in a metal results in (3)________ while in an electrolyte it results in (4)________ .
- electrons
- mobile ions
- no change
- decomposition of the electrolyte
How does electrolysis occur?
An electric current is used to break down an ionic substance
What is the substance that is broken down by electrolysis called?
The electrolyte
How is an electrical circuit for electrolysis set up?
• two electrodes which are dipped into the electrolyte • one of these is connected to the positive terminal of a power supply (the anode) • the other is connected to the negative terminal (the cathode)
What are the electrodes?
Conducting rods
What are the electrodes usually made of?
Inert (unreactive) substances, such as graphite or platinum
Why are electrodes made out of inert substances?
So that they do not react with the electrolyte or the products made in electrolysis
What happens to the ions when they reach the electrode?
They lose their charge and become elements
What can be given off / deposited at the electrodes?
Gases (given off) or metals (deposited)
Why do ionic substances not conduct electricity when they are solid?
This is because their ions are fixed in their giant lattice
What happens to the ions in an ionic substance when it is melted?
The ions are free to move around within the liquid and so carry their charge towards the electrodes
What is an alternative to melting some ionic substance to free it’s ions?
To dissolve it in water, which also enables the ions to become free to move around
Why is it more difficult to predict what will be formed when electrolysing ionic compounds in solution?
Because water also forms ions so the products at each electrode are not always exactly what should be expected
When can covalent compounds be electrolysed?
Only when they have reacted (ionized) in water to form ions
How do negatively charged ions become neutral atoms?
They lose electrons
How do positively charged ions become neutral atoms?
They gain electrons
What is it called when an ion gains electrons?
Reduction; the ions have been reduced
What is it called when an ion loses electrons?
Oxidation; they ions have been oxidised
How are the changes at each electrode represented?
By using half equations
What happens at the cathode (negative electrode)?
There is reduction of a positive ion
What happens at the anode (positive electrode)?
There is oxidation of a negative ion
What is the half equation for the reduction of lead (Pb2+)?
Pb2+ + 2e- –> Pb
What is the half equation for the oxidation of bromine (Br-)?
2Br- –> Br2 + 2e-
If there are two elements that can be produced at an electrode, which one will be formed preferencially?
The less reactive element
What two elements will usually be attracted to the cathode in the electrolysis of solutions?
Positively charged metal ions and H+ ions from water
What happens when hydroxide ions are discharged?
Oxygen gas is given off at the anode
When is oxygen gas (from hydroxide ions) not given off at the anode in aqueous solutions?
When the solution contains a reasonably high concentration of a halide ion (group 7)
What element can be produced instead of oxygen gas at the anode in the electrolysis of an aqueous solution?
The halide ion is discharged, which forms the halogen
how to describe an electrolytic process
- what will be the anode and what happens to it
- what will be the cathode and what happens to it
- what will be the electrolyte and what happens to it
- what are the ions and that happens to them
The products at the cathode are always (1)__________gas or a (2)__________.
when effervescence is seen at the anode this is usually a (3)_________ or (4)________.
- hydrogen
- metal
- halogen
- oxygen
what are the 3 main factors affecting the preferential discharge of anions in electrolysis?
- position in the electrochemical series
- concentration
- type of anode
what is the only factor affecting the preferential discharge of cations during electrolysis?
their position in the electrochemical series
The lower they are in the electrochemical series, both anions and cations are preferentially discharged because_____________
they are least stable and will give away or accepted electrons more readily in order to become more stable.
Electrochemical series
rules to discharge ions in the electrochemical series
what happens to the stability of ions and anions as we go up or down the electrochemical series?
the stability increases as we go up and decreases as we go down
What process is used to extract aluminum?
Electrolysis
What is the compound electrolysed when extracting aluminum?
Aluminum oxide (Al2O3)
What ore is aluminum extracted from?
Bauxite
What is the first step in the extraction of aluminum?
To separate the aluminum oxide from the ore, which contains a lot of rocky impurities such as iron(III) oxide
Why is the aluminum oxide melted before it is electrolysed?
This enables the ions to move to the electrodes
What is the disadvantage of having to melt the aluminum oxide?
It has a very high melting point of 2050ºC, which uses a lot of energy
What is cryolite and why is it used in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide?
sodium aluminium fluoride, Na3AlF6. It reduces the melting point of aluminium oxide from 2050 deg C to about 950 deg C, therefere utilizing less energy
What is the overall reaction in the electrolysis cell when extracting aluminum?
2Al2O3 (l) –> 4Al (l) + 3O2(g)
What happens at the cathodes in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide?
Each aluminium ion (Al3+) gains 3 electrons, which turns the ions into aluminium atoms. Therefore the Al3+ ions are said to have been reduced (as they gain electrons) or form Al atoms
What is the half equation at the cathodes for the electrolysis of aluminium oxide?
Al3+ (l) + 3e- ––> Al (l)