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Electrolysis

This document discusses electrolysis, including the process, components of electrolytic cells, determining products of electrolysis, and applications such as electroplating. Key points covered include using the electrochemical series to determine reaction products, competition between ions at electrodes during water electrolysis, and using electrolysis for purposes such as corrosion protection and improving functionality.

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18 views15 pages

Electrolysis

This document discusses electrolysis, including the process, components of electrolytic cells, determining products of electrolysis, and applications such as electroplating. Key points covered include using the electrochemical series to determine reaction products, competition between ions at electrodes during water electrolysis, and using electrolysis for purposes such as corrosion protection and improving functionality.

Uploaded by

amberorigami
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electrolysis

Process, electrolytic cells, c lcul tions

VCE Chemistry Unit 3


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What is electrolysis?
De initions

• Electrolysis = process of using electrical energy to drive


chemical reactions
• Opposite of galvanic cells, where chemical energy converted
→ electrical energy
• Reactions are non-spontaneous
• Oxidation occurs at anode (-), reduction occurs at cathode (+)
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Electrolytic cell
Components

Usually, there are several chemical reactions at each electrode ; must decide which of the
possible reaction has greatest tendency to occur.
This can be done using the electrochemical series.
Determining products of electrolysis
Steps to follow

1. Identify all ions present in electrolyte & determine which will


migrate to which electrode (anions → anode, cations → cathode)
2. When there is more reaction at electrode, use standard electrode
potentials to compare which will occur
3. Balance the electrons for overall reaction
4. Consider changes that will be observed in cell
Question 1
Electrolysis of molten s lts

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Question 2
Electrolysis of molten s lts

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Electrolysis of water
Competition for queous solutions

Anode Cathode

Observations include:
• Colourless gas evolved at anode (oxygen) & cathode (hydrogen)
• pH at anode decreases (H+), whilst pH at cathode increases (releases OH-)
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Question 3
Question 4
Electrolysis of queous solutions
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Question 5
Electrolysis
Summary of differences
Electrolytic cell vs volt ic cell

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Electroplating
An pplic tion of electrolysis

• Electroplating = process of using electrolysis to


deposit or coat a layer of metal onto an object
• Features
• Electrolyte containing metal ions to be
deposited
• Cathode made up of object to be pasted
• Sometimes anode is made up of same metal
to be coated (can be oxidised to replenish
supple of ions in electrolyte)
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Electroplating - purposes
V rious re sons for electropl ting

• Decorative purposes - e.g. covering metal with layer of more


expensive or decorative metal
• Corrosion control - e.g. iron with layer of zinc deposited on its
surface, known as galvanised iron, is protected from corrosion
as sins will be preferentially oxidised (called sacri icial
protection)
• Improvement of function - e.g. electroplating with chromium
improves wear on steel parts, such as hand tools and
crankshafts
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Question 6
Electropl ting & f ctors ffecting electrolysis
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Question 7

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