Electrolytes

Electrolytes are compounds which when molten or dissolved in water conduct electric current and are decomposed in the process .

Non-electrolyte

A non-electrolyte is a liquid which does not allow the passage of electricity.

Molten Solution

This is composed of lead(II) ions, Pb2 + , and romide ions, !r-. Its chemical formula is therefore " !r#.

A suita le apparatus which could e used to carry out this electrolysis is shown in $igure a ove. The ul helps to show when electricity is flowing in the circuit, and until the lead(II) romide is completely molten, the ul does not light up . This confirms that electrolytes have to e molten for the ions to start to move to the electrodes and there y conduct electricity. At the Cathode Observation When electricity is flowing, a silvery deposit of lead metal forms on the cathode. In fact, as it is molten, it is more likely to drip off in a molten blob. Half equation Pb + 2e --- Pb
2+

At the Anode Observation When electricity is flowing, brown fumes of bromine gas are seen at the anode.

Half equation 2!r- --- !r2 + e

Explanation

Explanation "he bromide ions, as they are negative, move to the positive anode, where each loses an electron to form a bromine atom. "hen two of these newly formed atoms combine to

"he lead#II$ ions, as they are positive, move to the negative cathode, where each ion gains two electrons to form a lead atom.

%ny reaction at a cathode involved is again in electrons. "his is called reduction or more e&actly, cathodic

reduction .

form bromine gas.

%ny reaction at an anode involves a loss of electrons.

In summary, the lead(II) romide is split into its component elements %

" !r# ---& " ' !r#

Electrolysis of Aqueous Sulphuric Acid

As sulphuric acid is aqueous, it is composed not only of hydrogen ions ((' ) and sulphate ions ()*+#-), ut also of hydro,ide ions (*(-) from the water.

(#)*+ ' (#* --& #(' ' )*+#- ' (' ' *( The apparatus used to carry out this electrolysis and collect the gases given off is shown in $igure - .. . /hen we have more than one type of ion moving to an electrode, selective discharge (or preferential discharge) ta0es place. This means that the ion which can lose or gain electrons with the greatest ease is discharged, and the other ions, which are harder to discharge, remain in solution . /ith the electrolyte aqueous sulphuric acid, migration of ions to the electrodes also occurs. At the Cathode At the Anode

Here we have only one ion, the hydrogen, H+ (aq), and each ion gains an electron to become a hydrogen atom.

Here we have a choice of either sulphate, S or hydro$ide

! "#

(aq),

H# (aq) ions.

Hydro$ide is easier to discharge, so o$ygen gas is given off at the anode.

Two of these newly formed atoms then combine to form a hydrogen gas molecule .

Equation% 2'+ + 2e --- '2

Equation% ('- + )e --- (2 + '2(

Notes &ith electrolysis of aqueous solutions of dilute acids or al'alis, the volume of hydrogen given off at the cathode is roughly twice that of the o$ygen gas at the anode. (ccordingly, the elements of water are lost and as the electrolysis continues, the concentration of the acid or al'ali increases . )ssentially, the electrolysis of aqueous sulphuric acid is the electrolysis of water, with hydrogen and o$ygen gas being given off in a ratio of " % * .

E,traction of 1etal
The e,traction of metals from their ores, in particular aluminium and sodium, is important industrial uses of electrolysis. The diagram elow shows the methods of e,traction for different metals.

/e can see that those metals which are less reactive than car on in reactivity series are e,tracted from their ore y displacement reaction using car on. This will e discussed in detail in chapter 2, form 3, *,idation and 4eduction.

5opper and mercury can e e,tracted from their ore y urning directly in air. )ilver (Ag) and gold (Au) need no e,traction ecause they e,ist as element in nature. Those metals which are more reactive than car on are e,tracted y electrolysis.

Extraction of Aluminium
Aluminium is the most a undant metal found in the earth6s crust. It ma0es up a out .7 y weight of the Earth8s solid surface. It is also a very useful metal due to its low density and a ility to resist corrosion. The main source of aluminium is au,ite ore (Aluminium *,ide). In industry, aluminium is e,tracted y electrolysis from au,ite ore.

Adding Cryolite In electrolysis, molten aluminium o,ide must e used to e,tract aluminium. Aluminium o,ide decompose to form aluminium and o,ide ions when melted.

Al#*2 ---& #Al2' ' 2*#

(owever, the melting point of aluminium o,ide is very high (over # 999:5), so another aluminium compound called cryolite (;a2AI$<) is added to lower down the melting point (a out -.9o5). The diagram a ove shows how aluminium is e,tracted from molten aluminium o,ide y electrolysis. =raphite is used as the anode and cathode. >uring electrolysis, the aluminium ions are attracted towards the graphite cathode. The ions is discharged and ecome molten aluminium metal. The partial equation of this reaction is as follow%

Al2' ' 2e ---& Al

At the anode, o,ygen gas which also has commercial value is collected. The partial equation of this reaction is as follow%

#*#- ---& *# ' +e

At the temperature of -.9 :5, the o,ygen urns the car on anode. Therefore the anode has to e replaced periodically. Also, this cell uses large quantities of electricity, and therefore needs cheap sources of power.

Extraction of sodium chloride

In industry, sodium is e,tracted from molten sodium chloride. 1olten sodium chloride is put into the apparatus as showing in the diagram a ove. /hen sodium chloride is melted, the sodium and chloride ions disassociate to ecome freely move ions, as shown in the chemical equation elow.

;a5l ---& ;a' ' 5l

In this electrolytic cell, graphite was used as anode while iron is used as cathode. The negative chloride ions are attracted to the anode and then discharged to form chlorine gas.

#5l- ---& 5l# ' #e

)ince chlorine gas is also significant in industry, it is collected and stored. In cathode, the sodium ions are discharged to form sodium atom.

;a' ' e ---& ;a

>ue to high temperature, the sodium metal formed is in molten form. 1etal sodium have lower density. Therefore it moves upward and een collected.

"urification *f 5opper

In the refining or purification of copper, the impure copper is made the anode and a thin, pure copper plate is used as a cathode. The electrolyte is usually acidified copper(II) sulphate solution. /hen electricity flows, the copper dissolves from the impure anode and goes into solution as copper ions. Impurities in the copper do not dissolve, and instead fall off the anode as anode sludge. At the cathode, the copper ions are deposited as pure copper metal.

4eaction in anode (impure copper)

In anode, the copper atoms from the electrode are ionised to form copper(II) ions.

5u ---& 5u#' ' #e

4eaction in cathode (pure copper)

5u#'5u ---& 5u ' #e

Electroplating

Electroplating% 5oating with a Thin "rotective ?ayer of 1etal A very common use of electrolysis is to form a thin protective coating of a metal on the surface of another which is li0ely to corrode. The diagram a ove illustrate the electroplating of a 0ey with copper. In this process, we need to ma0e the cathode the o @ect for plating (the 0ey. The anode is then made of the metal we wish to plate with (copper), and the electrolyte needs to e a solution of a salt of this metal (copper(II) sulphate). Anode In anode, the copper atoms from the electrode are ionised to form copper(II) ions.

5u ---& 5u#' ' #e

Cathode In cathode, the copper ions are discharged to form copper atom and then deposit on the surface of the 0ey

5u#' ---& 5u ' #e

5ells and !atteries

A device which converts chemical energy into electrical energy is called a cell or attery. !attery is a collection of cells.

A cell consists of a pair of dissimilar metals in an electrolyte. $igure a ove shows an e,ample of a simple voltaic cell consist of a magnesium electrode and a copper electrode immerse in magnesium sulphate solution.

/hen chemical reaction happens, the more reactive metal, magnesium, dissolves in the magnesium sulphate solution and ecome magnesium ions, there y producing electrons, as shown in the half equation elow%

1g ---& 1g#' ' #e

As electrons are produced, the magnesium acts as the negative electrode. These electrons then travel to the copper electrode.

The hydrogen ions around the copper electrode receive the electrons and are discharged to produce u les of hydrogen gas%

#(' ' #e ---& (#

As electrons are ta0en in, the copper is the positive electrode. This production and movement of electrons is electricity, so electrical energy has een generated and the galvanometer is deflected. A*verall, the chemical reaction can e represented y the ionic equation%

1g ' #(' ---& 1g#' ' (#

In voltaic cell, the negative electrode is the anode whereas the positive electrode is the cathode, which is the opposite of the electrolytic cell.