Electrolysis

Question 1

What’s the positive electrode called?

What’s the negative electrode called?

Answer 1

positive - anode

negative - cathode

Question 2

The cathode (negative electrode) attracts …??

The Anode attracts …??

Answer 2

Cathode - attracts positive ions
(cations)

Anode - attracts negative ions (anions)

Question 3

What is oxidation?

Answer 3

Losing electrons! The negative ions are oxidised.

Question 4

What is reduction?

Answer 4

Gaining electrons! Positive ions are reduced

Question 5

What does “OIL RIG” stand for?

Answer 5

Oxidation Is Loss

Reduction Is Gain

Question 6

What is the definition of electrolysis?

Answer 6

When an electric current is used to break up an ionic compound to form elements.

Question 7

Explain how electrolysis works.

Answer 7

1- at first the electrolyte contains pos+ and neg- charges that are free to move
2- we connect the electrodes to a power supply and the anions are attracted to the anode. The cations are attracted to the cathode.
3- the neg- ions give up extra electrons from outer shell to become normal atoms, not ions. The electrons travel through the power supply to the pos+ ions (cations). This makes the positive ions uncharged atoms too.

So we’re turning ions into elements!

Question 8

What type of reaction is electrolysis?

Answer 8

Reduction as there’s a gain of electrons

Question 9

What is electrolyte?

Answer 9

the name for the substance being broken down