U Win Thu Naing 09403722601

CHAPTER 4
Electrolysis

(1) Electrolysis
The decomposition of a compound, in solution or in the molten state, brought about by the passage of an
electric current through it is known as electrolysis.
(2) Conductor
A substance which conducts or allows the passage of electricity is called a conductor.
(3) Non-conductor or Insulator
A substance which does not conduct or allow the passage of electricity is called non-conductor.
Notes (1) All metals are conductors.
(2) Conductors are usually solids.
(3) One exception is mercury which is liquid at room temperature.
(4) Wood, rubber and plastic are non-conductors.
(4) Electrolytes
A substance of molten state or solution in water which allows the passage of electricity is called
electrolyte.
(5) Non-electrolytes
A substance of molten state or solution in water which does not allow the passage of electricity is called
non-electrolyte.
Notes (1) Ionic compounds are electrolytes.
(2) Covalent compounds are non-electrolytes.
(3) Electrolytes contain electrically charged particles.
(4) The electrical conductance of a metal is much greater than that of an electrolyte.
Difference of Conductors and Electrolytes

Conductors Electrolytes
(1) Metals and graphite Ionic compounds
(2) Do not contain ions Contain ions
(3) Pass electricity by moving Pass electricity by moving ions
electrons
Difference between Conductors and Non-conductors
Conductors Non-conductors(Insulator)
(1) A substance of solid state or molten (1) A solid substance that cannot conduct
state that can conduct electricity. electricity.
(2) The electricity can flow through (2) They have no free electrons.
conductor by moving electrons. (3) Rubber, wood and plastics are examples
(3) Metals and graphite are conductors. of non-conductors.
Difference between Electrolytes and Non-electrolytes
Electrolytes Non-electrolytes
(1) A substance of molten state or solution in (1) A substance of molten state or solution in
water which allows the passage of electricity water which does not allow the passage of
is called electrolyte. electricity is called non-electrolyte.
(2) Electrolytes contain ions so they can (2) Electrolytes contain ions so they can
conduct electricity due to the movement of conduct electricity due to the movement
ions. of ions.
(3) Electrolytes are ionic compounds. (3) Non-electrolytes are covalent compounds.

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(6) Ionic Theory (Arrhenius’ Theory)
(i) Electrolytes contain electrically charged particles called ions.
(ii) Electrolytes can conduct electricity due to the movement of the ions.
(iii) Non-electrolytes do not contain ions and so they cannot conduct electricity.
Notes (1) Arrhenius put forward the ionic theory about the year 1880.
(7) Factors affecting the electrolysis products
(i) Position of cation or anion in the electrochemical series
(ii) Concentration
(iii) Nature of electrode
(8) Electrochemical series
Cations and anions are arranged in the order of increasing readiness to be discharged from the solution.
This arrangement is known as the electrochemical series.
Cations
K+
2+
Notes
Ca
Easy (1) The ion in the lower position of the
to Na+ electrochemical series is easier to discharge in
discha Mg2+ preference to those above it.
rge Zn2+ to the cathode (2) The higher the concentration of the ion, the
(ဓတ္ျပ Fe2+ (ဓတ္မတု ိင္သုိ႔) greater will be the readiness to discharge.
ယ္ 2+
ဖု ိ႔လြ
Pb (3) The different electrodes may give different
H+ products from the same electrolytes.
2+
Cu
Ag+
Common electrodes
Anions - Platinum
SO42- - graphite
Easy
NO3- - Copper
to
discha Cl-
rge Br- to the anode
(ဓတ္ျပ (ဓတ္ဖုိတု ိင္သုိ႔) Cation က cathode ဆီသု ိ႔ သြ
I-
ယ္ Anion က anode ဆီသု ိ႔ သြ
ဖု ိ႔လြ
OH-

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Electrolysis of Salts

Molten Salts Aqueous Salts

(i) Electrolysis of molten sodium chloride (i) Electrolysis of dilute sulphuric acid/ aqueous
by using platinum electrodes sodium chloride/ sodium hydroxide/ copper
(ii) Electrolysis of molten lead (II) (II) sulphate solution by using platinum
bromide by using platinum electrodes electrodes
(ii) Electrolysis of saturated sodium chloride
solution by using platinum electrodes
(iii) Electrolysis of aqueous copper (II) sulphate
solution by using copper electrodes
(iv) Electrolysis of water acidified by sulphuric
acid by using platinum electrodes.

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(9) Cathode
In electrolysis, the negative electrode is called cathode.
(10) Anode
In electrolysis, the positive electrode is called anode.
(11) Cation
In electrolysis, positive ion is called cation.
(12) Anion
In electrolysis, negative ion is called anion.
Notes (1) Cations move/migrate/discharge/ reduce to the cathode.
(2) Cathode reduction is reduction reaction.
(3) A cathode is an electron donor and an anode is an electron acceptor.
(4) The electrochemical series and activity series are similar but not identical.
(5) Metallic conductance is inversely proportional to its temperature.
(6) In a battery, there is a flow of electrons towards positive terminal.
(7) Aqueous solution of sugar conducts electricity.
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Exercise 4.1
1. Explain the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride using platinum electrodes.
2. Explain the electrolysis of dilute sulphuric acid solution using platinum electrodes.
3.Explain the electrolysis of saturated sodium chloride solution (brine) using platinum electrodes.
4.Explain the electrolysis of aqueous copper (II) sulphate solution using platinum electrodes and copper
electrodes.
5.Write down the reactions at the cathode and anode for the electrolysis of molten lead (II) bromide using
platinum electrodes.
6.Write down the electrode reactions for the electrolysis of aqueous sodium hydroxide (alkali) solution using
platinum electrodes.
7. Give the electrode reactions for the electrolysis of aqueous solution of acid using platinum electrodes.
8. Name the main anode and cathode products during the electrolysis of sodium hydroxide solution.
9. What is the net result for the electrolysis of aqueous copper (II) sulphate solution using copper electrodes?
10. What are the factors affecting the electrolysis products?
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(13) Faraday’s First Law of Electrolysis
The mass of element liberated is directly proportional to the quality of electricity passed through the
solution during electrolysis.
Q = It

Where Q = amount of electricity (C)

I = current (A)
t = time (s)
(14) One Faraday
The quantity of electricity to liberate one mole of univalent element is 1F or 96500C.
1F = 96500C

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Exercise 4.2

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1. What mass of copper will deposited during electrolysis by a charge of one Faraday? (Cu=63)
2. What volume in dm3 at STP of hydrogen gas will be liberated by using a charge of one Faraday?
3. What mass of silver and what volume of oxygen at STP will be liberated during electrolysis by a charge of
two Faraday? (Ag = 108, O = 16, 1F = 96500C)
4. What mass of copper and what volume of hydrogen will be liberated at STP during electrolysis by 48250C?
(Cu=63, H=1, 1 Faraday = 96500C)
5.What will be the quantity of electricity required for the deposition of 2.7g of silver on the cathode?
(One Faraday = 96500C, Ag = 108)
6. Calculate the mass of copper in grams deposited by passing a steady current of 0.75A for 25 minutes
through an excess of copper (II) sulphate solution. (Cu=63, One Faraday = 96500C)
7. Calculate the volume of hydrogen gas which would be released from dilute sulphuric acid (at STP) by
passing a steady current of 0.5A was switched on and allowed to flow for 15 minutes.
8. On passing a steady current of 0.75A for 25 minutes through a copper (II) sulphate solution, 0.369g of
copper is deposited. Calculate the relative atomic mass of copper.
9. On passing a steady current of 0.1A for one hour through a silver nitrate solution. 0.4029g of silver is
deposited. Calculate the relative atomic mass of silver.
10. On passing a steady current of 0.85A for 40 minutes through a metal (II) sulphate solution, 0.825g of
metal is deposited. Calculate the relative atomic mass of that metal.
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(15) Faraday’s Second Law of Electrolysis
When the same quantity of electricity is passed through the solutions of different electrolytes the relative
number of moles of the elements deposited are inversely proportional to the charges on the ions of each of the
element respectively.
1
mole of discharged ∝
charge on ion

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Exercise 4.3
1. An electric current is passed in turn through the solutions of silver nitrate and copper (II) sulphate in series.
If 2.16g of silver were deposited at the cathode of the first cell, calculate the mass of copper deposited in the
second cell. (Ag = 108, Cu = 63, 1F = 96500C)
2. An electric current is passed in turn through solutions of silver nitrate, copper (II) sulphate and dilute
sulphuric in series. If 0.5g of silver were deposited at the cathode of the first cell, calculate (a) the mass of
copper deposited in the second cell and (b) the volume of hydrogen liberated at 30°C and 760 mmHg in the
third cell.
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(16) Electroplating
Electroplating is the electrical precipitation of one metal on another.
Note (1) The appearance and corrosive resistance of the object is greatly improved by electroplating.
Silver Plating
Cathode - The object to be silver plated
Anode - Silver rod
Electrolyte - Potassium argentocyanide, KAg(CN)2
+
Cathode reaction - Ag (aq ) + e → Ag(s)
+
Anode reaction - Ag (s ) → Ag( aq ) + e
Chromium Plating
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Steel parts are usually chromium plated. Chromium cannot stick well on steel. Therefore, steel is plated
first with copper or nickel. Then it is plated by chromium.
Cathode - Steel parts coated by copper or nickel
Anode - Lead
Electrolyte - Chromium (III) sulphate in sulphuric acid, Cr2(SO4)3
3+
Cathode - Cr (aq ) + 3 e →Cr (s)
2+
Anode - Pb(s) → Pb( aq) + 2 e
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Exercise 4.4
1. Name the anode and cathode for the silver plating. Write down the reactions at the cathode and anode for
the silver plating.
2.Write down the reactions for the ionization of potassium argentocyanide KAg(CN) 2 solution and the
reaction at the anode for silver plating.
3. Name the anode and cathode for the chromium plating. Write down the reaction at the cathode and anode
for chromium plating.
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Chemical Cell (change from chemical energy to electrical energy)
A chemical cell produces electricity by a chemical reaction.
Notes (1) The ions above the electrochemical series have more electropositive than lower ones.
(2) More separate metals in the electrochemical series produce more electromotive force (e.m.f) in a
chemical cell.
(3) Polarization occurs in a chemical cell due to the hydrogen bubbles.
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Exercise 4.5
1.Two plates, one of zinc and one of copper, held apart and connected to a small light bulb are dipped into
diluted sulphuric acid. The bulb lights up but the light soon becomes dim. (a) What would be observed at
the copper plate? Write an equation for the reaction which occurs. (b) What would happen at the zinc plate?
Write an equation for this reaction. (c) Explain why the light fades after a short time. (d) If the zinc plate
was replaced by an iron plate, would the lamp glow more or less brightly? (e) If the zinc plate was retained
but the copper plate was replaced by a silver plate, would the lamp glow more or less brightly?
2. Draw a fully labelled diagram of the apparatus you would use to electrolytes brine and measure the
volumes of the gases and state produced at the electrodes. (a) Name the gases and state their relative
volumes. (b) How can these gases be made to react with one another? (c) What is the product of the reaction
of these two gases? (d) What will be the actual volume at STP of this product if 96500 coulombs were used
in the electrolysis assuming that complete combination of the reacting gases occurred?
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Questions and Problems (from Textbook)
1. State TRUE or FALSE for each of the following.
(a) Anions are oxidized at the anode.
(b) Metals are good insulators of electricity.
(c) A conductor contains electrically charged ions.
(d) In an electrolysis, the quantity of element discharged is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity
used.
(e) A chemical cell produces electricity due to the chemical reaction.
2. Fill in the blanks with a suitable word or phrase or numerical value with unit as necessary.
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(a) The decomposition of a molten salt brought about by the passage of electricity through it is known as
--------.
(b) Cation is reduced at the --------.
(c) The ions at the lower position of the -------- are easier to discharge.
(d) The electrical precipitation of one metal on another is known as --------.
(e) The metals more separate in the electrochemical series produce more -------- when they are used as the
electrodes.
3. Choose the correct term or terms given in the brackets.
(a) (K+, H+, Cu2+) ions are difficult to discharge.
(b) Electrolytes can conduct electricity due to the movement of (ions, electrons, molecules).
(c) Polarization occurs in a chemical cell due to the (hydrogen bubbles, discharge of OH - ions,
disconnection of current).
(d) More (separate, closed, adjacent) metals in the electrochemical series produce more e.m.f in a chemical
cell.
(e) Articles to be electroplated are connected to the (cathode, anode, electrode).
4. Match the item from List A to the relevant item in List B.
List A List B
(a) 96500C (i) produce e.m.f
(b) chemical cell (ii) one Faraday
(c) electrolytic cell (iii) chemical reaction by electric current
(d) inert electrode (iv) tendency to flow the current
(e) conductance (v) Pt
5. Describe the differences between (a) conductors and non-conductors (b) electrolytes and non-electrolytes.
6. Answer the following questions. (a) What do we call a solid which does not conduct electricity? (b) What
do we call a liquid which does not conduct electricity?

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