ELECTROLYSIS

ICSE CLASS 10
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Electrolysis
may be defined as a process of
decomposition of chemical
compounds by passage of
electricity through its aqueous
solution or molten (fused) state.
Electrolytes
Compounds which conducts electricity when dissolved in water or in
the molten state are called electrolytes. They are the Ionic Compounds
or Polar Covalent Compounds like KOH,NH4OH ,Ca(OH)2 etc.

Strong Electrolyte
Allows large amount of electricity to pass EXAMPLE
HCL , NACL , HNO3,
through them
HBr , NaNO3
Weak Electrolyte
The electrolyte which allows small amount of electricity
to flow through them are called weak electrolyte.
EXAMPLE
Non Electrolyte CH3COOH , HCOOH , NH4OH
Do not conduct electricity at all.
Pure or Distilled Water, CCL4 , Glucose , Mg(OH)2 , Na2CO3,NaHCO3
Urea etc.
Cathode

NCR
IONS AND ELECTRODES Negative Cathode
Reduction
Cathode - Cations
Anode - Anions Anode

PAO
Positive Anode
Oxidation
Oxidation
Addition of Oxygen
Removal Of Hydrogen Oxidizing Agents.
Loss of Electrons Gets reduced and makes other oxidized.
NMC Property
Reducation Reducing Agents.
Removal of Oxygen
Addition Of Hydrogen Gets oxidize and reduce others.
Gain of Electrons MC Property
ELECTROLYSIS is a REDOX REACTION
Reduction occurs on Cathode IONISATION DISSOCIATION
Separation of Ions
Oxidation occurs on ANode Formation of Ions

Electrochemical
Series
K
Ca Electrochemical
Na Niche Waale Phle PREFERENTIAL
Mg
discharge Hoge SO4 Series
Al

DISCHARGE
Zn Niche Waale Phle
Fe Upar Waale Niche NO3 The relative position of
discharge Hoge
Ni
Waalon ko Replace
the cation or anion in
Sn CL Upar Waale Niche
Pb krege electrochemical series.

Waalon ko Replace
[H]
BR
Concentration of the
Cu krege
Hg
Ions in the electrolyte.
Ag I The Nature of the
Au

Electrode.
Pt

OH

Electrolysis is done
by Direct Current

Electrolysis of Molten Electrolysis of acidified water

Lead Bromide using platinum electrodes
1. Electrolyte : molten lead bromide
1. Electrolyte : Distilled water is
(PbBr2)
2. Temperature: Above 300 °C , the acidified by a small quantity of
melting point of PbBr2 is maintained by H2SO4
continuous heating of a burner.
2. HCl and HNO3 cannot be used as
3. Electrolytic cell : Crucible made of Silica
4. Electrodes : The cathode and anode are they are volatile.
both made of graphite plates which are 3. Electrodes : Platinum foiles, which
inert they are connected by copper wire are inert; connected by copper
to the two ends of a battery
5. Current : 12 volt ,3 ampere (from a
wires to the two terminals of a
battery) battery
6. Ions present : Pb2+ & Br 4. Current : 12 volts (from a battery)

REACTIONS AT THE CATHODE AND THE ANODE

At cathode :
H+ ions being the only positively charged ions, migrate to the cathode.
H+ gains an electron and becomes a neutral hydrogen atom
Hydrogen atoms combine to form a molecule and comes out as
hydrogen gas
 REACTIONS AT THE REACTIONS AT THE

RATLO
CATHODE AND THE ANODE CATHODE AND THE ANODE

RATIO OF HYDROGEN Electrolysis of copper sulphate solution using

platinum anode and copper oF platinum cathode
TO OXYGEN
Electrolyte : saturated solution of CuSO4 prepared
in distilled water with a small amount of
concentrated H2SO4
Electrolytic Cell : Electrolytic Cell : Glass or a
Porcelain jar

Electrolysis of aqueous copper

sulphate using copper electrodes
Electrolyte : Aqueous copper sulfate
Cathode : Copper
Anode : Copper
Temperature : Ordinary
Temperature
Current : Voltage: 12 Volts
Current : 3 Ampere

Product at anode : Oxygen

Product at cathode :Reddish Brown copper is deposited
● When the deposition of Cu2+ ions is completed then
electrolysis of water takes place.
● Hydrogen gas is liberated at the cathode and Oxygen gas
is liberated at the anode

Electroplating is the process in which of thin film of a metal like Gold, Silver, Nickel
Chromium etc. gets deposited on another metallic article with the help of electricity.
Why we do electroplating ?
1) Decoration purposes :
2. To protect from Rusting & Corrosion:
 Conditions for electroplating
Condition :
➢ The article to be electroplated is always placed at the cathode
Reason :
➢ During electrolytic reaction the metal is always deposited at the cathode by gain of electrons
Condition :
➢ 2. The metal to be plated on the article is always made the anode and has to be periodically
replaced
Reason :
➢ The metal anode continuously dissolves as ions in solution and is replaced periodically.

Condition :
➢ 3. The electrolyte must contain ions of the metal which is to be plated on the article (i. e.
be a suitable salt of the plating metal)
Reason :
➢ The electrolyte dissociates into ions of the metal which migrate towards the cathode and
are deposited as neutral metallic atoms on the cathode

Condition :
➢ 4. A low current for a longer time should be used.
Reason :
➢ Higher current causes uneven deposition of the metal. Longer time and
low current initiatives are thicker uniform deposition

Electroplating of Article with Silver

Electroplating of Article with Nickel

Electrolytic refining of metals
Electrolytic refining is a process by which metals containing
impurities are purified electrolytically to give a pure metal.

Electrometallury
Electrometallurgy is the process of of
extraction of metals by electrolysis.
Clarify Knowledge by
Pranay Mishra

pranaymishrack