electrolytic processes Flashcards
topic 3 - chemical change
what are electrolytes
ionic compounds in the molten state or dissolved in water
describe electrolysis
- electric current is passed through electrolyte
- causing it to decomposes
explain the movement of ions during electrolysis:
a) positvely charged cations migrate to negatively charged cathode
b) negatively charged anions migrate to positively charged anode
where do cations migrate to
the negatively charged cathode
where do anions migrate to
the positively charged anode
what happens when cations in the electyrolyte move towards the cathode (negative electrode)
- cations move towards cathode
- and are reduced (gain electrons)
what happens when anions in the electrolyte move towards the anode (positive electrode)
- anions move towards anode
- and are oxidised (lose electrons)
Explain the formation of the products in the electrolysis, using inert electrodes, of some electrolytes, including:
a) copper chloride solution
- copper ions go to cathode
- copper is produced
- (copper is less reactive than hydrogen)
- chlorine ions go to anode
- chlorine gas is produced
- (clhorine are halide ions)
Explain the formation of the products in the electrolysis, using
inert electrodes, of some electrolytes, including:
b) sodium chloride solution
- hydrogen ions go to cathode
- hydrogen gas is produec
- (sodium is more reactive than hydrogen)
- chlorine ions go to anode
- chlorine gas is poruduced
- (chlorine are halide ions)
Explain the formation of the products in the electrolysis, using
inert electrodes, of some electrolytes, including:
c) sodium sulfate solution
- hydrogen ions go to cathode
- hydrogen gas in produced
- sodium is more reactive than hydrogen
- hydroxide ions to to anode
- oxygen gas is produced
- sulphate ions are not halide ions
Explain the formation of the products in the electrolysis, using
inert electrodes, of some electrolytes, including:
d) water acidified with sulfuric acid
- hydrgoen to cathode
- hydrogen gas produced
- (these are the other ions present in sulfuric acid H2SO4)
- hydroxide ions to anode
- oxygen gas is produced
- (SO42- ions are not halide ions)
Explain the formation of the products in the electrolysis, using
inert electrodes, of some electrolytes, including:
e) molten lead bromide
- lead to cathode
- lea dis proudecd
- (not in solution so these are the only + ions present)
- bromine to anode
- bromine liquid is proudced
- (not is solution so these are the only - ions present)
what woll your solution contain when you have an ionic solution (NOT molten ionis compound) ((products of electrolysis usining inert electrodse))
- the ions that mak eup the ionic compound
- the ions in water (OH- and H+)
what happens at the cathode (products of electrolysis) (using inert electrodes)
- hydeogen (from H+ in water) is proudec
- unless the + ions in the ionic compoun are from a metal less reactive than hydrogen
- if teh metal is less reactive (than hydrogen) it will be proudced instead
what happens at the anode (products of electrolysis) (using inert electrodes)
- ocygen (from OH- in water) will be proudced
- unless the ionic compound contains halide ions (cl, br , i (minuses) )
- if there are halide ions the halogen will be produced instead
predict the products of electrolysis of other binary, ionic compounds in the molten state
-identify which ions there are within the ionic compound
- the + ions will go to cathode
- the - ions will go to anode
why is it easier to predict the products of electrolysis in the molten state
no ions present except those in the ionic compound
what do half equations show
how electrons are transferred during reactions
- what happens at each electrode during electrolysis
how to write half reactions in electrolysis
- put one of the things being oxidised or reduced on one side of arrow
- the thing it gets oxidised or reduced to on the other
- balance the numbers of atoms
- add electrons (e-) on to one side to balance up charges
example of electrolysis half equation
Na -> Na+ + e - (sodium losing one electron to become a sodium ion
2H+ + 2e- -> H2 (hydrogen ions are gaining electrons to become hydrogen)
what a half equation looks like for the reactions at each electrode a) negative electrode
X+ -> X , so ionic equation must be,
X+ + e- -> X (electons gained so positive ions are reduced)
(OILRIG)
what a half equation looks like for the reactions at each electrode
b) positive electrode
X -> X , so ionic equation must be,
X -> e - + X 9electrons are lost so negative ions are oxidised)
(OILRIG)
explain oxidation and reduction in terms of loss or gain of electrons
- oxidation is LOSS (of electrons)
- reduction is GAIN (of electrons)
(OILRIG)
reduction occurs at the
cathode