ELECTROLYSIS OF

AN AQUEOUS
SOLUTION

 In the electrolysis of aqueous

solutions only one ion is involved in
the selective discharge of ions at each
electrode during the electrolysis and
their ions are free to move.
Their ions are cation and anion.

Aqueous
Salt
Water
Solution Ionization Ionization
NaCl(aq)

NaCl
Na+ + Cl-

H 2O
H+ + OH-

CuSO4(aq) CuSO4
H 2O
Cu2+ + SO42- H+ + OH-

HNO3(aq) HNO3
H+ + NO3-

H 2O
H+ +
OH-

Cation

Anion

Na+ , H+

Cl-, OH-

Cu2+ , H+

SO42-, OH-

H+

NO3- , OH-

Carbon
Electrode

Na+

Na+

Na+
OHOH-

OHNaCl Solution

The positive ions are attracted to the negative electrode

The negative ions are attracted to the positive electrode

The ion which is selected for discharge

at an electrode depends on a
number of factors, that is:
1. Position of the ions in the
electrochemical series
2. Types of electrode
3. Concentration of the ions in solution

Position of the ions in the

electrochemical series
The figure below shows an idealized drawing of a cell in which an
aqueous solution of sodium sulphate is electrolyzed

O2 (g)
Na2SO4
SO42-

Na+

OH-

H+

Observation
Anode(+):
Ion OH-

Conclusion + Chemical Equation

OH- ion much easier to discharge
than SO42- ion in the electrochemical
series.
The only product formed is oxygen
gas.
4OH-(aq)

Cathode(-):
Ion H+

H2O(aq) + O2(g) + 4e-

H+ ion much easier to discharge

than Na+ ion, the only product
formed at the anode is hydrogen gas.
2H+(aq)+2e-

H2(g)

Electrochemical Series
K+
Na+
Ca2+
Mg2+
Al3+
Zn2+
Fe2+
Sn2+
Pb2+
H+
Cu2+
Hg+
Ag+

The tendency
of cation to
discharge
increases

FSO42NO3ClBrIOH-

The tendency
of anion to
discharge
increases

Nature of the Electrode

Electrolysis of an aqueous solution of
Cuprum Sulphate: Carbon Electrode
Cuprum Sulphate
Solution

Carbon Electrode

Anode

Cathode

Observation
Anode(+):
Ion OH-

Conclusion + Chemical Equation

OH- ion much easier to discharge
than SO42- ion in the electrochemical
series.
The only product formed is oxygen
gas.
4OH-(aq)

Cathode(-):
Ion Cu2+

H2O(aq) + O2(g) 4e-

Cu2+ much easier to discharge than

H+ ion, the only product formed at the
cathode is precipitate of brown colored.
Metal copper formed.
Cu2+(aq) + 2e-

Cu(s)

Electrolysis of an aqueous solution of

Cuprum Sulphate: Cuprum Electrode
Cuprum Electrode

Anode

Cuprum sulphate
Solution

cathode

Observation
Anode(+):
Transfer of copper
metal from the anode
to the cathode during
electrolysis. The
copper sulphate is
ionized in aqueous
solution.

Conclusion + Chemical Equation

Each copper atom loses two
electrons to become copper ions,
which go into solution.
Cu(p)

Cu2+(aq) + 2e-

Where each gains two electrons to

Cathode(-):
become copper atoms that are
The positively
deposited on the cathode.
charged copper ions
migrate to the cathode.
Cu2+(aq) + 2eCu(p)

Concentration of the Ions in

Solution
Electrolysis of an aqueous solution of Dilute
Potassium Iodide

Electrode Carbon

Electrode Carbon
O2(g)
KI dilute
IOH-

K+
H+

Observation
Anode(+):
Ion OH-

Conclusion + Chemical Equation

OH- ion much easier to discharge
than I- ion.
The only product formed at the
anode is oxygen gas.
4OH-(aq)

Cathode(-):
Ion H+

H2O(aq) + O2(g) 4e-

H+ ion much easier to discharge than

K+ ion.
The only product formed at the
anode is hydrogen gas.
2H+(aq)+ 2e-

H2(g)

Electrolysis of an aqueous solution of

Concentrated Potassium Iodide

Electrode Carbon

Electrode Carbon

I2 (g)
KI
OHI-

K+
H+

Observation
Anode(+):
Ion I-

Conclusion + Chemical Equation

I- ion much easier to discharge than
OH- ion because concentration of iodide
ion is high.
Iodine gas formed.
2I-(aq)
I2(g) + 2e-

Cathode(-):
Ion H+

H+ ion much easier to discharge than

K+ ion.
The only product formed at the anode
is hydrogen gas.
2H+(aq)+2e-

H2(g)

Activity 1

Anode
Electrolyte Electrode Attracted
Ion
NaCl (aq)
Dilute

Ionized
Ion

Cathode
Product Attracted Ionized
Ion
Ion

Product

Carbon Ions Cl-, OH- Ion OH-

O2 gas

Ions Na+,
H+

Ion H+

H2 gas

KCL (aq)
Carbon Ions Cl-, OH- Ion ClConcentrate
d
CuBr2 (aq)
Carbon Ions Br-, OH- Ion OHDilute

Cl2 gas

Ions K+,
H+

Ion H+

H2 gas

O2 gas

Ions Cu2+ , Ion Cu2+

H+

AgBr2 (aq)
Carbon Ions Br-, OH- Ion BrConcentrate
d
NiCl2 (aq)
Nikel Ions Cl-, OH- Metal
nikel
Dilute
erode

Br2 gas

Ion Ag+ ,
H+

Ion Ag+ Argentum

metal

Ion Ni2+

Ion Ni2+,
H+

Ion H+

Copper
metal

H2 gas