Production of chemicals using electrolysis

Question 1

Anode

Answer 1

electrode where oxidation (loss of electrons) occurs

Question 2

Aqueous electrolyte

Answer 2

dissolved ionic compound with ions that are free to move (in aqueous state)

Question 3

Cathode

Answer 3

electrode where reduction (gain of electrons) occurs

Question 4

Electrolytic half-equation

Answer 4

one of two equations (oxidation or reduction) that describes one half of an electrolytic reaction

Question 5

Electrolytic reaction

Answer 5

non-spontaneous redox reaction that requires a specified voltage from an external power source to occur

Question 6

Molten electrolyte

Answer 6

melted ionic compound with ions that are free to move (in liquid state)

Question 7

Additive

Answer 7

a substance added to improve or optimise a chemical process

Question 8

Electrolytic cell

Answer 8

cell that facilitates electrolytic (non-spontaneous redox) reactions

Question 9

Electroplating

Answer 9

application of a layer of a metal onto another metal during an electrolytic reaction

Question 10

Polarity (in electrochemical cells)

Answer 10

overall charge of an electrode

Question 11

Standard electrode potential (E 0)

Answer 11

potential of a half-cell reaction, given in volts (V), relative to the Standard Hydrogen Electrode

Question 12

Battery

Answer 12

device consisting of cells that convert chemical energy into electrical energy

Question 13

Discharge

Answer 13

conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy as a result of spontaneous redox reactions

Question 14

Recharge

Answer 14

conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy through electrolytic reactions

Question 15

Secondary cell

Answer 15

electrochemical cell that can be recharged

Question 16

Artificial photosynthesis

Answer 16

process that utilises human-made materials to capture sunlight and split water molecules to create hydrogen and oxygen

Question 17

Electrolyser

Answer 17

a device or system that houses the process of electrolysis and manages the process flow of inputs and outputs

Question 18

Green hydrogen

Answer 18

hydrogen gas produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, through electrolysis

Question 19

Photovoltaics

Answer 19

conversion of solar energy to electrical energy using human-made materials

Question 20

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)

Answer 20

also called proton exchange membrane, uses a proton-conducting polymer membrane as the electrolyte and connects two half-cells, but prevents the mixing of different molecules

Question 21

Coulomb

Answer 21

unit of electric charge (equal to the quantity of charge carried by a current of 1 ampere in 1 second)

Question 22

Electric charge

Answer 22

property of matter carried by current and measured in coulombs where the charge on a single electron is -1.60 x 10^-19 coulombs

Question 23

Faraday constant (F)

Answer 23

charge on one mole of charged particles, equal to 96 500 coulombs per mole