Topic 5 - Electrolysis, Metals and Extraction, Transition Metals Flashcards
electrolysis
using electricity to brake down substances (decompose electrolytes)
-> separate the elements in insoluble ionic compounds
electrolyte
liquid or solution that contains an ionic compound - ions are free to move - they can conduct electricity
cations
positive ions
anions
negative ions
cathode
negative electrode
anode
positive electrode
electrodes in electrolysis
solid conductors that are immersed in an electrolyte and are connected to a direct current electricity supply to drive a chemical reaction
-> ions are attracted to the two electrons
what are cations attracted to
negative cathode
what are anions attracted to
positive anode
what happens to the ions at the anode (MOLTEN ELECTROLYSIS)
- get discharged
- the negative ions loose electrons - become a neutral atom
what happens to the ions at the cathode (MOLTEN ELECTROLYSIS)
- get discharged
- the electrons are transferred from the electrode to the positive ions (gain electrons) - make a pure neutral molecule
oxidation is..
Loss of electrons
Reduction is..
Gain of electrons
OILRIG stand for
Oxidation Is Loss of electrons
Reduction Is Gain of electrons
where does reduction take place
Cathode
Where does oxidation take place
Anode
what do ions turn into after being at the cathode
atoms
what do ions at the anode turn into
molecules
cathode half equation (reduction)
anode half equation (oxidation)
what type of electrode is used when doing molten electrolysis
an inert (unreactive) electrode - (graphite)
in the electrolysis of a MOLTEN salt what is usually formed at the cathode and anode
just the metals in metal compound
what is attracted and formed at the cathode in AQUEOUS electrolysis
- attracted: the cations and the H+ ions
- formed: if it’s not Cu, Ag, Au then hydrogen is formed
what is attracted and forms to the anode in the AQUEOUS electrolysis
- attracted: anions and OH- ions
- formed: if it’s not a halogen (Cl-, Br-, I-) then oxygen is produced