Electrolysis

Question 1

Define: electrolysis

Answer 1

process that produces a non-spontaneous redox reaction by the passage of electrical energy from a power supply through a conducting liquid. It converst electrical energy to chemical energy

Question 2

Define: spontaneous reaction

Answer 2

occur naturally and are not driven by an external source of energy and vice versa.

Question 3

what can the conducting liquid be?

Answer 3

molten or liquid?

Question 4

Describe the structure of an electrolytic cell.

Answer 4

Same, but

• power source drives non spontaneous reaction
• don’t need to be separated into half cells, though reactants must be kept apart
• anode is positive
• electrolyte can be liquid or molten
• positive electrode connected to positive terminal

Question 5

What substance reacts at the anode, and what substance reacts at the cathode?

Answer 5

The strongest reductant, the strongest oxidant.

Question 6

Can water and electrodes react?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

Compare energy conversions in electrolytic vs galvanic cell

Answer 7

electrical - > chemical and vice versa

Question 8

Are galvanic and electrolytic cells spontaneous?

Answer 8

Only galvanic

Question 9

What do we look out for when we’re predicting the reactions of aqueous solutions?

Answer 9

When only one of the electrodes is reactive, the equation must match it being oxidation or reduction based on whether it is anode or cathode. If not, disregard it