Electrolysis (is a way to extract metal from ores of oxides)

Anode: positive electrode At anode: negative ions are oxidized

Cathode: negative electrode At cathode: positive ions are reduced
1. Molten electrolyte
Metals in group I, II and Aluminum can ONLY be extracted in molten electrolyte, because they’re too reactive to be extracted by
chemical reduction (*). In this case, electrolyte is molten chlorides such as MgCl2, NaCl…

Molten NaCl Molten Al2O3

- Anode: 2Cl- Cl2 + 2e (oxidation of chloride) (e=electron) - Anode: 2O2-  O2 + 4e
- Cathode: Na+ + 1e  Na (reduction of sodium) - Cathode: Al + 3e  Al
3+

- Equation: 2NaCl  2Na + Cl2 - Equation: 2Al2O3  4Al + 3O2

2. Solution electrolyte
The other metals can be extracted using its dissolved salt as a solution.
CuCl2 What if you electrolyse NaCl in solution (p.260 made easy)
- Anode: 2Cl  Cl2 + 2e
- Salt NaCl is dissolved in the solution, forming ions: Na+ Cl- H+ OH-
- Cathode: Cu + 2e  Cu
2+ - Anode: 2Cl-  Cl2 + 2e (pale green gas bubbles)
- Equation: CuCl2  Cu + Cl2 - Cathode: 2H+ + 2e  H2 (colorless gas bubbles),
- Equation: 2NaCl + 2H2O  Cl2 + H2 + 2NaOH. (NaOH makes the solution
after electrolysis alkaline)

3. Electroplating (mạ kim loại = điện) to coat an object A with a less-reactive metal B  B protects A from rust. (**)
Example: To coat a medal with copper (Cu)
- Electrolyte: a salt of Cu, like CuCl2
- Anode is metal Cu: Cu  Cu2+ + 2e (oxidation of Cu, to supply the electrolyte with more Cu2+ that is being reduced at
cathode). The anode slowly dissolves away.
- Cathode is the medal, Cu2+ ion will come and coats the medal: Cu2+ + 2e  Cu (Reduction of Cu2+)
(**) Rust occurs on the surface of the metal that came in contact with water, oxygen, the most common equations are
4Fe + 3O2  2Fe2O3 and 3Fe + 4H2O  Fe3O4 + 4H2
Rust are oxides of those metals.
(*) Extracting metals from ores w/out electrolysis: Using reducing agent such as carbon C in a heated condition
2CuO + C  2Cu + CO2
2FeO + C  2Fe + CO2
3Fe2O3 + 2C  6Fe + 2CO2
Fe3O4 + 2C  3Fe + 2CO2
Al2O3 + C  doesn’t happen. Aluminum MUST be extracted by electrolysis in molten electrolyte. Other metals like Cu, Fe above can
be extracted by both electrolysis or using carbon as a reducing agent.
The equations above can be classified as: displacement and redox reaction.