ELECTROLYSIS

Module C2
Splitting up ionic compounds (F) Molten compounds Ionic solutions & discharge rules Q = It and OILRIG Brine and purifying copper

- + - + - + - + - + - +
+

SPLITTING UP IONIC COMPOUNDS 1 Cl- ION Na+ ION

Ionic compounds (eg sodium chloride) are made from: POSTIVE IONS (atoms which LOST negative electrons) NEGATIVE IONS (atoms which GAINED negative electrons) As these ions have OPPOSITE CHARGES they attract each other strongly to form IONIC BONDS

SPLITTING UP IONIC COMPOUNDS 2 2 ways to split up the ions:

MELT

- + + - + + -

DISSOLVE

+ + - + +

- + - + - + - + - + - +
+

+ -

H2O

800C

20C

SEPARATING THE IONS 1

+
ELECTRON

Metal ELECTRODE

Battery pulls electrons off one electrode and pushes them onto the other

This IS SHORT OF electrons so becomes POSITIVELY CHARGED ANODE

This HAS EXTRA electrons so becomes NEGATIVELY CHARGED CATHODE

SEPARATING THE IONS 2

+
MOLTEN IONIC COMPOUND + -

+ ANODE

- CATHODE

When the battery is switched on, the + IONS move to the CATHODE the IONS move to the + ANODE
This gives a way to SPLIT UP IONIC COMPOUNDS: ELECTROLYSIS

Example 1: Splitting up MOLTEN SODIUM CHLORIDE (salt)

- =

Cl-

chloride ION, extra 1 electron

Cl

chlorine ATOM, Cl Cl NEUTRAL

Cl2 molecule

+
- chloride IONS lose their extra electrons and turn into neutral chlorine ATOMS

Cl ClClCl

ClCl ClCl

At ANODE: Clthen: Cl + Cl

e- + Cl Cl2 (gas)

Both together: 2Cl- 2e- + Cl

Example 1: Splitting up MOLTEN SODIUM CHLORIDE (salt) + = Na+ sodium ION, missing1 electron
Na sodium ATOM, NEUTRAL

+
+ sodium IONS gain an extra electron and turn into neutral sodium ATOMS

Na Na+ Na Na+

Na Na+ Na Na+

At CATHODE: Na+ + e-

Na

molten sodium metal sinks to bottom

Example 1: Splitting up MOLTEN SODIUM CHLORIDE (salt) - CATHODE

ELECTRONS

+ ANODE CHLORINE gas Cl2

Cl-

SODIUM metal Na

MOLTEN SODIUM CHLORIDE

Na+

At ANODE: Cle- + Cl Cl + Cl Cl2 (gas)

At CATHODE: Na+ + e-

Na

Example 2: Splitting up MOLTEN LEAD BROMIDE PbBr2 + ANODE BROMINE gas Br2
Br-

- CATHODE
ELECTRONS

LEAD Metal Pb

MOLTEN LEAD BROMIDE

Pb2+

At ANODE: Bre- + Br Br + Br Br2 (gas)

At CATHODE: Pb2+ + 2e-

Pb

Both together: 2Br- 2e- + Br

What happens when the ionic compounds are dissolved in water?

Here, water molecules break up into HYDROGEN IONS, H+ and HYDROXIDE IONS OH-

H2O H+ + OHSo, in an ionic solution (eg sodium chloride solution), there will be FOUR types of ion present: TWO from the ionic compound and TWO from the water (H+ SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION NaCl (aq)
H+ OHNa+ ClOHH+ Na+ ClH+ OHNa+ Cl+ OH-)

IONIC SOLUTION

H+ OH-

ClNa+

OHH+

Na+ Cl-

H+ Na+

OHCl-

Which ions gain or lose electrons (get discharged) and which stay in solution?

IONIC SOLUTIONS: At the CATHODE

Na+ sodium ION, missing 1 electron
H+

hydrogen ION, missing 1 electron

Hydrogen ATOM, NEUTRAL

which ions?

As HYDROGEN is LESS REACTIVE than SODIUM, it is discharged. The sodium ions stay in solution.

Na+

H+ Na+

H H+

At CATHODE: 2H+ + 2e-

H2

IONIC SOLUTIONS: At the CATHODE halogen compounds

Cl-

chloride ION, extra 1 electron

hydroxide ION, O H from water extra electron

Cl

chlorine ATOM, NEUTRAL

+
H

O
Cl Cl-

O H
ClCl

O
ClCl ClCl

O H

If the ion is a HALOGEN (Cl, Br, I) it is discharged and chlorine (or Br or I) is given off and the OH - ions stay in solution

which ions?

At ANODE:

2Cl-

2e- + Cl2

IONIC SOLUTIONS: CATHODE non halogen compounds

nitrate ION, extra NO3 1 electron hydroxide ION, OHO H from water, extra electron

Oxygen atom

+
NO3H NO3-

O H
NO3-

NO3H

If the ion is NOT a halogen (eg nitrate, sulphate etc) then the HYDROXIDE ions from the water are discharged to make WATER and OXYGEN gas. The other ions stay in solution.

O H

which ions?

At CATHODE: 4OH-

2H2O + O2 + 4e-

RULES FOR IONIC SOLUTIONS

+ ANODE Attracts ions (Anions) If ions are HALOGENS ie chloride Clbromide Briodide Ithe HALOGEN is produced. If ions are NOT HALOGENS Eg sulphate SO4 nitrate NO3carbonate CO32OXYGEN is produced.
2- ,

- CATHODE Attracts + ions (Cations) If + ions (metals) are MORE REACTIVE than hydrogen K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe Then HYDROGEN is produced If + ions (metals) are LESS REACTIVE than hydrogen Cu, Ag, Au Then the METAL is produced

(REACTIVITY: K+ Na+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Al3+ Zn2+ Cu2+ Ag+ Au3+ ) Compound State Ions Cathode (-) potassium molten potassi K+ Clchloride um aluminium molten alumin Al3+ O2oxide ium 2+ Cl- H+ copper solution Cu copper OHchloride sodium solution Na+ Brhydrog bromide H+ OHen silver nitrate solution Ag+ NO3- H+ silver OHpotassium solution K+ Cl- H+ hydrog chloride en OHzinc sulphate solution Zn+ SO42- H+ hydrog en + Na+ OH2 (REACTIVITY: K Ca + Mg2+ Al3+ Zn2+

Fe3+ H+ Anode (+) chlorin e oxygen chlorin e bromin e oxygen chlorin e oxygen Fe3+ H+

ELECTROLYSIS makes a CIRCUIT Complete electric circuit: Current carried by:

ELECTRONS in electrodes/wires
+ +

IONS in the electrolyte

To DOUBLE the MASS of substance discharged at electrodes: 2 x CURRENT (2x batt. voltage) 2 x TIME current flows for (Q = I t)

OILRIG

Cl-

Cl-

Oxidation is loss, reduction is gain OILRIG

Na+ Na+

Na+ Na+

Cl-

Cl-

-ions LOSING electrons + ions GAINING electrons to become atoms is called to become atoms is called OXIDATION REDUCTION (even though oxygen may not be involved)

INDUSTRIAL USES OF ELECTROLYSIS 1. To extract reactive metals such as ALUMINIUM, sodium, magnesium etc from their compounds. This is EXPENSIVE due to the large amounts of electrical energy needed. Aluminium is extracted from bauxite (Al2O3). 2. Electrolysis of BRINE (salt solution) to produce see below CHLORINE (for disinfectants and plastics) HYDROGEN (for ammonia fertilisers, margarine) SODIUM HYDROXIDE (for soap and cleaning agents)
see be 3. Purifying copper. The copper for wiring etc needs tobelow more pure than that produced in a blast furnace. Electrolysis is used to convert impure copper to pure copper

1.

INDUSTRIAL ELECTROLYSIS OF BRINE Chlorine gas

BRINE (NaCl solution)

Hydrogen gas

ANODE OH- and Cl2Cl2e+ Cl2

Sodium chloride solution (neutral) slowly changed to

CATHODE H+ and Na+

2H+ + 2eH2

OH- left in solution so concentration grows

Na+ left in solution so concentration grows

Industrial chlorine production from electrolysis of brine

PURIFYING COPPER
IMPURE COPPER ANODE Copper sulphate CuSO4 solution
Cu2+ Cu2+

PURE COPPER CATHODE

Copper atoms from impure copper are OXIDISED to copper ions

Cu

Cu2+

Cu

Copper ions transported from anode to cathode

Copper ions from impure copper are REDUCED to copper atoms

As the atoms of the impurities are not transported, the copper that builds up on the anode is extremely pure.

IMPURE COPPER ANODE

PURE COPPER CATHODE

IMPURE COPPER ANODE

PURE COPPER CATHODE

Over time, the impure anode dissolves away and the impurities sink to the bottom. The pure cathode grows as more pure copper is deposited on it. Why will the concentration of the solution stay the same?