New Note Chapter 22 Electrolysis - 2022 - Student Version
New Note Chapter 22 Electrolysis - 2022 - Student Version
1
Chapter 22.
Electrolysis
Topic 7(e) Electrolysis
- describe the materials needed to construct an electrolytic cell
- electrolysis as the decomposition of substances by electricity as exemplified by electrolysis of
i. dilute sulphuric acid
ii. sodium chloride solutions of different concentrations (very dilute Vs dilute, conc.)
iii. copper(II) sulphate solution
- describe the anodic and cathodic reactions, overall reaction and observable changes of the
electrolyte in electrolytic cells
- preferential discharge of ions in relation to the E.C.S., concentration of ions and nature of electrodes
- predict products at each electrode of an electrolytic cell with reference to the factors affecting
the preferential discharge of ions
- describe the anodic and cathodic reactions, overall reaction and observable changes of
electrolyte in electroplating
- understand the environmental impact of the electroplating industry
Voltameter
• The symbol represents a variable resistor, an instrument used to vary the resistance of
the circuit and hence regulate the current.
(d) Voltameter
• It is a container in which electrolysis takes place.
molten ZnCl2(l)
(1000 oC)
(2) Electrolysing molten zinc chloride breaks it down to make zinc and chlorine.
(3) At the cathode (negative electrode): Zinc ions are attracted towards to the cathode and
discharged here where they gain electrons and turn into zinc atoms.
Zn2+(l) + 2e- → Zn(s)
(4) At the anode (positive electrode): Chloride ions are attracted towards the anode and
discharged here where they lose electrons to form chlorine atoms and the chlorine atoms join
together to form chlorine molecules.
2Cl-(l) → Cl2(g) + 2e-
(5) Overall reaction: Zn2+(l) + 2Cl-(l) → Zn(s) + Cl2(g)
Notices:
(i) The number of electrons gained by cations must be equal to that lost by anions.
(ii) Discharge of ions takes place only on the surface of electrodes
(iii) An electric current is conducted by delocalized electrons in the electrodes and connecting
wires, and by mobile ions in the electrolyte
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.3
Practice 22.1:
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.4
Diagram
Negative
electrode
(cathode)
electrolyte
Oxidation occurs at the anode (AN OX) Reduction occurs at the cathode (RED CAT)
H2O
molecule
OH− ion
H+ ion
(2) Thus, an aqueous solution of sodium chloride NaCl(aq) contains the following ions:
Cations Anions
(4) The ions are preferentially discharged depending on the following factors:
(i) position of cations and anions in the E.C.S.,
(ii) concentration of ions in the solution and
(iii) nature of electrodes.
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.6
22.5 Some examples of electrolysis
Example (A): Electrolysis of acidified water (e.g. dilute H2SO4(aq)) using platinum electrodes
(1) Pure water is a very poor conductor of electricity because pure water is only very slightly
ionized (very low concentration of mobile ions!). So, there is no observable change for the
electrolysis of pure water (i.e. distilled water).
(2) When some dilute sulphuric acid is added to water, the solution can be electrolyzed.
(3) Hofmann voltameter is used to carry out the electrolysis of acidified water.
22.6 Position of ions in the E.C.S. and the preferential discharge of ions
(1) Table 22.2 summarises the products of electrolysis of aqueous solutions discussed above.
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.9
(I) Cations discharged at cathode
(1) Fig. 22.7 shows the relative positions of sodium ion, hydrogen ion and copper(II) ion in the
electrochemical series.
(2) Since discharge at the cathode involves reduction, ions that accept electrons readily will be
reduced first. Thus, stronger oxidising agents will be preferentially discharged compared to
weaker oxidising agents.
(3) H+(aq) ion is a stronger oxidising agent than Na+(aq) ion. Hence H+(aq) ions are discharged
(reduced) at the cathode in preference to Na+(aq) ions during the electrolysis of very dilute
sodium chloride solution.
(4) Cu2+(aq) ion is a stronger oxidising agent than H+(aq) ion. Hence Cu2+(aq) ions are discharged
(reduced) at the cathode in preference to H+(aq) ions during the electrolysis of dilute copper(II)
sulphate solution.
(II) Anions discharged at anode
(1) Fig. 22.8 shows the relative positions of hydroxide ion, halide ions, nitrate ion and sulphate ion
in the electrochemical series.
(2) Since discharge at the anode involves oxidation, ions that lose electrons readily will be
oxidised first. Thus, stronger reducing agents will be preferentially discharged compared to
weaker reducing agents.
(3) OH–(aq) ion is a stronger reducing agent than SO42–(aq) ion and Cl–(aq) ion. Hence OH–
(aq) ions are discharged (oxidised) at the anode in preference to SO42–(aq) ions and Cl–(aq) ions
(Table 22.2).
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.10
(III) Summary
(i) Position of ions in the electrochemical series (E.C.S): (inert electrodes: C, Pt)
Notice: In general, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, NO3- and SO42- are NOT discharged during
electrolysis of an aqueous solution using inert electrodes (C or Pt).
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.11
Example 22.1
Example 22.2
Practice 22.2
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.14
22.7 Concentration of ions in solution and the preferential discharge of ions
Example (D): Electrolysis of dilute sodium chloride solution using inert electrodes (graphite)
(i) Table 22.3 summarises the products of electrolysing sodium chloride solutions of different
concentrations using carbon electrodes.
(ii) Concentration of ions in solution (Only for I-, Br-, Cl- solution; inert electrodes: C, Pt)
➢ In general, when two ions occupied similar positions in the E.C.S., the ion at a higher
concentration will be discharged first.
➢ The concentration effect on anions (OH-, I-, Br-, Cl- ) is significant whereas the concentration
effect on cations is insignificant.
Example 22.3
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.16
Practice 22.3
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.17
22.8 The nature of the electrodes and the preferential discharge of ions
Example (E): Electrolysis of concentrated sodium chloride solution using mercury cathode
Na+(aq) + e- → Na(s)
(b) The Na(s) formed then dissolves in Hg(l) to give alloy, sodium amalgam (Na/Hg).
Example (F): Electrolysis of dilute copper (II) sulphate solution using copper electrodes
Cu(s) → Cu(s)
Anode Cathode
(a) Brown Cu(s) electrode becomes thinner on the anode.
(b) Brown deposit (Cu(s)) forms on the cathode.
(c) The blue colour of the solution remains unchanged as the amount of copper dissolves
at the anode is equal to the amount of copper deposits on the cathode, the
concentration of Cu2+(aq) ions remains unchanged.
(5) Summary
(i) Table 22.4 summarises the products of electrolysing dilute copper(II) sulphate solutions using
different electrodes.
Practice 22.4
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.20
Question 2:
An electric circuit is set yup below. All the electrodes are made of graphite.
When the circuit is closed, a current flows in the external circuit. After some time, a reddish brown
fume is observed around electrode X.
(a) Which pole, A or B, is the positive pole? Explain briefly.
(b) What is observed at electrode W? Write the ionic half equation for the reaction involved.
(c) What are the gases collected in the test tubes above electrodes Y and Z respectively? Write the ionic half
equations for the reactions involved.
(d) What is the ratio of the theoretical volumes of the gases collected above electrodes Y and Z?
(e) What is the colour change of the universal indicator around the electrodes Y and Z during the electrolysis?
(f) Using the concept of preferential discharge of ions, explain the formation of the gas at electrode Y.
(g) Suggest a test for the gas collected at electrode Z.
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.21
Question 3:
An electrical circuit is set up as shown in the figure below. Electrodes R and S are made of graphite
while electrodes T and U are made of silver.
bulb
R S T U
(a) No current flows while the potassium iodide is in the solid state, but the bulb lights up when water
is added. Explain why this happens.
(b) When water is added to the solid potassium iodide, a current flows through the circuit.
(i) State the polarity of each of the electrodes.
(ii) State whether each electrode is the cathode or the anode.
(c)
(i)What is seen around electrode R after the current has been passed for some time?
(ii) Give the half equation for the change that occurs.
(d)
(i) After passing the current for some time, what can be observed at electrodes T and U? Explain.
(ii) Give the half equations for the changes that occur.
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.22
22.9 Industrial applications of electrolysis
(A) Electroplating
(1) Electroplating is the process of coating a thin layer of metal (Cr, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au) on an object
by electrolysis.
(2) Electroplating is used to prevent corrosion of Fe and improve appearance.
(3) Set-up for electroplating (e.g. nickel-plating):
(4) Equations:
(i) At the anode: Ni(s) → Ni2+(aq) +2e-
(ii) At the cathode: Ni2+ (aq) + 2e- → Ni(s)
(iii) Overall reaction: Ni(s) (anode) → Ni(s) (cathode)
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.23
Example 22.4
Practice 22.5
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic 7 Redox reactions, chemical cells and electrolysis / Chapter 22 / Page.25
(5) Environmental impact of the electroplating industry
The electroplating process involves pretreatment (e.g. cleaning and degreasing), plating and post
plating treatment (e.g. rinsing with water).
(2) The ores used are usually chlorides of K, Na, Ca and Mg and oxide of Al. For example, in
the extraction of aluminum from molten aluminum oxide, the following reactions occur:
➢ At the cathode : Al3+(l) + 3e- → Al(l)
➢ At the anode : 2O2-(l) → O2(g) + 4e-