Electrolysis of Sodium Chloride Solution Flashcards
Does reactivity have an effect on the products produced by electrolysis?
Indeed it does. Stay tuned to find out why!
Sometimes, there are more than 2 free ions in an electrolyte. Give an example of this?
Water! It contains H+ ions and OH- ions.
At the negative electrode, if H+ ions and metal ions (positively charged) are present and the metal is MORE reactive than hydrogen, what’ll happen to these ions and why?
The metal ions will stay in solution if the metal is more reactive than hydrogen.
Why? Because the more reactive an element is, the keener it is to stay as an ion (stable outer shell).
Hydrogen will be produced if the metal is more reactive than hydrogen.
At the negative electrode, if H+ ions and metal ions (positively charged) are present and the metal is LESS reactive than hydrogen, what’ll happen to these ions and why?
The metal will be produced if it the metal is less reactive than hydrogen.
At the positive electrode, if OH- ions AND HALIDE ions (negatively charged) are present, what’ll happen to these ions?
Molecules of chlorine, bromine or iodide will be produced if halide ions are present.
At the positive electrode, if OH- ions (negatively charged) are present BUT THERE’S NO HALIDE IONS, what’ll happen?
Oxygen will be formed because no halide ions are present.
What are the 3 products are produced as a result of the electrolysis of sodium chloride?
Hydrogen, Chlorine and Sodium Hydroxide.
Why is hydrogen formed in this reaction?
Because hydrogen is less reactive than sodium.
Why is chlorine formed in this reaction?
Because the halide ion of chloride lost an electron at the positive electrode.
Why is sodium hydroxide produced and not just sodium?
The ions stay in solution because they are more reactive than hydrogen.
The hydroxide ions are from the water.
The hydroxide bonds with sodium to make sodium hydroxide.
