Electrolysis

Question 1

What is electrolysis?

Answer 1

Breaking things down using electricity. An electric current is used to break down ionic compounds into elements.

Question 2

What is the broken down compound called?

Answer 2

An electrolyte

Question 3

What are the two electrodes and their charges?

Answer 3

The anode is positively charged.

The cathode is negatively charged.

Question 4

What type of reactions happen during electrolysis and where?

Answer 4

Redox reactions (oxidation is loss of electrons, reduction is gain of electrons).

At the cathode positive ions gain electrons to become neutral (reduction)

At the anode negative ions lose electrons to become neutral (oxidation)

Question 5

What do you need for electrolysis?

Answer 5

A power supply
2 electrodes (usually made of carbon so don’t react)
An electrolyte

Question 6

Why don’t ionic compounds conduct electricity?

Answer 6

Ionic compounds as a solid don’t conduct electricity as they are in a fixed position in a giant lattice. When melted or dissolved in water they are free to move so can conduct electricity