Electrochemistry Flashcards
An oxidant is…
a reagent which oxidises another reagent
A reductant is…
a reagent which reduces another reagent
Oxidation is…
a loss of electrons
an increase in oxidation number
a gain of oxygen
a loss of hydrogen
Reduction is…
a gain of electrons
a decrease in oxidation number
a loss of oxygen
a gain of hydrogen
Rule 1 dictates that…
the sum of all the oxidation numbers of any substance is equal to the total charge
Rule 2 dictates that…
fluorine has an oxidation number of -1 in compounds
Rule 3 dictates that…
group 1 metals are +1 in compounds, while group 2 metals are +2 in compounds
Rule 4 dictates that…
when H is bonded to non-metals, it has an oxidation number of +1
when H is bonded to metals, it has an oxidation number of -1
Rule 5 dictates that…
oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2 in compounds and -1 in peroxides
An electrolytic cell is…
a cell that uses electric current to force a chemical reaction to occur that would otherwise not happen
composed of two electrodes in an electrolyte that is commonly an aqueous solution or molten ionic compound
An electrolyte is…
a solution that conducts electricity due to ions being able to flow past each other
may be a molten ionic compound or a dissolved ionic compound
Electroplating is…
using electrolysis to cover a metal item with another metal in order to improve appearance and/or reduce corrosion
Electrorefining is…
the use of electrolysis and an impure anode to plate a pure metal onto the cathode
Corrosion is…
the disintegration of a metal as a result of a redox chemical reaction
Rusting is…
a specific example of corrosion involving iron
