Electrochemistry Flashcards
Define Electrolysis
It is the use of electricity to bring about a chemical reaction in n electrolyte, i.e. a chemical reaction is produced when an electric current is passed through an electrolyte
What is an electrolyte?
A compound which when molten r dissolved in water will conduct an electric current
What is electroplating?
A process where electrolysis is used to put a layer of one metal on the surface of another
a cell which a chemical reaction results in the production of an electric current is called…
A galvanic or voltaic cell
Define electrochemical series
A list of elements in order of their standard electrode potentials
The chemist who used electrolysis to discover potassium and sodium
Humphry Davy
What does the term ‘inert’ mean
The electrodes merely carry the current in and out of the electrolyte e.g graphite and platinum
What does the term ‘active’ mean
The electrodes react with the electrolyte e.g iron and copper
