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12 views

Untitled Document-15

Uploaded by

-Samra-
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is Electrolysis?

● Electrolysis: A process where electrical energy is used to cause a chemical reaction, typically breaking
down compounds.
● For molten ionic compounds, heat is needed to melt the solid, allowing the ions to move freely.

What Happens in Electrolysis?

When a molten ionic compound is electrolysed:

1. Metal ions (cations) move to the cathode (negative electrode) and gain electrons to form the metal.
2. Non-metal ions (anions) move to the anode (positive electrode) and lose electrons to form the
non-metal.

This is called discharging the ions.

Example: Electrolysis of Lead(II) Bromide (PbBr₂)

1. At the Cathode (Negative Electrode):


○ Lead ions (Pb²⁺) gain 2 electrons and turn into lead atoms (a process called reduction):
Pb2++2e−→PbPb2++2e−→Pb
○ This forms liquid lead, which collects at the cathode.

2. At the Anode (Positive Electrode):


○ Bromide ions (Br⁻) lose 1 electron each and turn into bromine atoms (a process called
oxidation):2Br−→Br2+2e−2Br−→Br2​+2e−
○ Two bromine atoms then join to form a bromine molecule (Br₂), which is a red-brown gas.

Why Does This Work?

● Metal ions (cations) are positively charged, so they are attracted to the negatively charged cathode.
● Non-metal ions (anions) are negatively charged, so they are attracted to the positively charged
anode.
● This movement of ions completes the circuit, allowing the electrical current to flow.

General Rule for Molten Ionic Compounds

● The metal is always formed at the cathode.


● The non-metal is always formed at the anode.
Key Concepts

● Oxidation happens at the anode (loss of electrons).


● Reduction happens at the cathode (gain of electrons).
● Half-equations are used to show the reactions at each electrode.

Applications

Electrolysis is used in:

● Metal extraction (e.g., aluminium from aluminium oxide).


● Producing chlorine from sodium chloride.

Exam Tip

When answering questions:

1. Identify the ions present in the compound.


2. Determine which ion goes to which electrode:
○ Positive ions (cations) → Cathode.
○ Negative ions (anions) → Anode.
3. Write the half-equations for the reactions at each electrode.
4. Combine the half-equations for the overall reaction.

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