C6 Electrolysis Flashcards
What is an electrolyte?
A compound that is broken down by electrolysis
What are the two electrodes?
Cathode
Anode
What is the negative electrode?
Cathode
What is the positive electrode?
Anode
What happens during electrolysis?
Positively charged ions move to the cathode, negatively charges ions move to the anode
What is reduction?
Gain of electrons
What is oxidation?
Loss of electrons
Why are the electrodes made of an unreactive substance?
So they electrodes don’t react with the electrolyte or the products made in elecrolysis
What reaction is at the negative electrode?
Reduction reaction(loss of electrons)
What reaction is at the anode(positive electrode)?
Oxidation(gain of electrons’
Which metals are extracted through electrolysis?
Metals that are more reactive than carbon
What is used to reduce the melting point of aluminium oxide?
Cryolite
What is the half equation for aluminium at the cathode?(reduction reaction)
Al3+ + 3e-=AL
What is the half equation for oxygen at the anode?(oxidation reaction)
O2- = O-2e-
Why must the anode be replaced regularly?(GOT THIS WRONG IN DECEMBER MOCKS)
The oxygen molecules produced at the anode react with the graphite forming carbon dioxide gas