Electrolysis Flashcards
What does the word electrolysis mean?
The chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through an electrolyte
What is an electrolyte?
An aqueous or molten solution which has ions free to move.
What are electrodes made out of?
An intert material
What does the term inert mean?
A substance that is not Chemically reactive.
What are the electrodes called and what are their charges?
Anode-positive
Cathode-negative
What moves where in electrolysis?
Positive ions move to the Cathode
Negative ions move to the Anode
What does OILRIG stand for?
Oxidation Is Loss Reduction Is Gain
What is a redox reaction?
An oxidation/reduction reaction.
Why must the impurities of copper be removed?
So that the copper can be made more useful
What happens at the positive electrode during the electrolysis of copper?
Copper impurities collect under the anode
What happened at the negative electrode during the electrolysis of copper?
The Cathode gets coated in pure copper
