(a) describe electrolysis as the conduction of electricity by an ionic

compound (an electrolyte), when molten or dissolved in water, leading

to the decomposition of the electrolyte
(b) describe electrolysis as evidence for the existence of ions which are
held in a lattice when solid but which are free to move when molten or
in solution

Candidates (c) describe, in terms of the mobility of ions present and the electrode
products, the electrolysis of molten lead bromide, using inert electrodes

should be (d) predict the likely products of the electrolysis of a molten compound
(e) apply the idea of selective discharge (linked to the reactivity series
able to: for cations, see 9.2) to deduce the electrolysis products of aqueous
solutions; describe the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium
chloride, aqueous copper(II) sulfate and dilute sulfuric acid using inert
electrodes
(f) predict the likely products of the electrolysis of an aqueous
electrolyte, given relevant information
(g) construct equations for the reactions occurring at each electrode
(anode and cathode) during electrolysis
• (h) describe the electrolysis of purified aluminium oxide dissolved in molten cryolite as
the method of extraction of aluminium (see 9.5(a))
• (i) describe the electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulfate with copper electrodes as a
means of purifying copper
• (j) describe the electroplating of metals, including copper plating, and recall one use of
electroplating
• (k) describe the production of electrical energy from simple cells (i.e. two electrodes in
an electrolyte) linked to the reactivity series (see 9.2)
 It is the decomposition of compound by electricity.

Electricity is used to produce chemical changes.

What is The apparatus used is called an Electrolytic cell.

Electrolysis?
Electricity is the flow of electrons or ions.

For electrolysis to work, the compound must contain ions.

Covalent compounds cannot act as electrolytes because they
contain neutral atoms.
The ions must be free to
move, which is possible when
an ionic substance is dissolved
in water or it is melted.

For example, if electricity is

passed through molten lead
bromide, the lead bromide is
broken down to form lead and
bromine.
Electrode: Rod or plate where electricity enters or
leave.
Two types of electrodes:
Cathode: negative electrode
Anode: positive electrode
Electrolytes
To be an electrolyte, a substance
must be able to conduct electricity.
To test for conductivity, include a
sample of the substance in a circuit
that contains a source of direct
current (eg a cell or power pack) and
a bulb or an ammeter. If a current
flows through the substance when it
is molten or dissolved, it is an
electrolyte.
Solid to molten

lattice when solid but

free to move when

molten or in solution

Electrolysis is an evidence
of structure of solid
Electrolysis of molten
lead bromide
• Method:

• Add Lead (II) Bromide into a beaker and heat so it will turn molten, allowing ions
to be free to move to conduct an electric charge.
• Add two graphite rods as the electrodes and connect this to a power pack or
battery.
• Turn on power pack or battery and allow electrolysis to take place.
• Negative bromide ions move to the positive electrode (anode) and lose two
electrons to form bromine molecules. There is bubbling at the anode as brown
bromine gas is given off.
• Positive lead ions move to the negative electrode (cathode) and gain electrons to
form a grey lead metal which deposits on the surface of the electrode.
 Apply the idea of selective
discharge to
deduce the electrolysis of
concentrated aqueous sodium
chloride, aqueous copper(II) sulfate
and dilute sulfuric acid
using inert electrodes
What is selective discharge?
• The concept of selective discharge is like a tool that helps us in predicting which ion will get
discharged(liberated) at cathode and anode
• the more reactive the metal, the least tendency for the metal ions to be preferentially discharged
at the cathode.
• Ions of reactive metals like potassium and sodium will remain in the electrolyte solution and will
not be discharged.

• Hydrogen ion and ions of less reactive metals like copper and silver will be preferentially
discharged.

• In aqueous solution, hydrogen ions will be preferentially discharged over the ions of the metals
above hydrogen in the reactivity series. Hydrogen gas will be liberated.

Likewise, if the cations come from a metal which is below hydrogen in the reactivity series, then the
metal ions will be preferentially discharged. A metal will be produced.
Electrolysis of Aqueous Sodium Chloride
• Aqueous sodium chloride
• Brine is a concentrated solution of aqueous sodium chloride
• It can be electrolysed using inert electrodes made from platinum or carbon/graphite
• When electrolysed, it produces bubbles of gas at both electrodes as chlorine and hydrogen are produced, leaving
behind sodium hydroxide solution
• These substances all have important industrial uses:
• Chlorine is used to make bleach
• Hydrogen is used to make margarine
• Sodium hydroxide is used to make soap and detergents
• Product at the Negative Electrode:
• The H+ ions are discharged at the cathode as they are less reactive than sodium ions
• The H+ ions gain electrons to form hydrogen gas
• Product at the Positive Electrode:
• The Cl– ions are discharged at the anode
• They lose electrons and chlorine gas forms
• The Na+ and OH– ions remain behind and form the NaOH solution
Dilute sulfuric acid
• Dilute sulfuric acid can be electrolysed using inert electrodes made
from platinum or carbon/graphite
• Bubbles of gas are seen at both electrodes
• Product at the Negative Electrode
• H+ ions are attracted to the cathode, gain electrons and
form hydrogen gas
• Product at the Positive Electrode
• OH- ions are attracted to the anode, lose electrons and form oxygen
gas and water
Electrolysis of Copper Sulfate solution with copper electrodes
• Electrolysis can be used to purify metals by separating them from their impurities
• In the set-up, the impure metal is always the anode, in this case the impure copper
• The cathode is a thin sheet of pure copper
• The electrolyte used is an aqueous solution of a soluble salt of the pure metal at the
anode, e.g. CuSO4
• Copper atoms at the anode lose electrons, go into solution as ions:
• Cu Cu2+ + 2e
• The anode thus becomes thinner due to loss of atoms and the impurities fall to the
bottom of the cell as sludge
• The copper(II) ions are attracted to the cathode where they gain electrons and form now
purified copper atoms
• The cathode gradually becomes thicker
• Cu2+ + 2e- Cu
• The anode sludge is a highly valuable material and is further refined as it often contains
small quantities of precious metals like silver which are found as impurities in the
unrefined copper
• Method: (copper electrodes)
• Pour copper sulfate solution into a beaker
• Measure and record the mass of a piece of copper foil. Attach it to the negative terminal of a DC supply, and dip the
copper foil into the copper sulfate solution
• Repeat with another piece of copper foil, but this time attach it to the positive terminal
• Make sure the electrodes do not touch each other, then turn on the power supply
• Adjust the power supply to achieve a constant current and leave for 20 minutes
• Remove one of the electrodes and wash it with distilled water, then dip it into propanone
• Lift the electrode out and allow all the liquid to evaporate. Do not wipe the electrodes clean. Measure and record the
mass of the electrode
• Repeat with the other electrode making sure you can identify which electrode is which
• Repeat the experiment with fresh electrodes and different currents.
• Analysis of results:Record the currents used and the masses of each electrode in suitable table format
• Calculate the change in mass of each electrode
• Conclusion:
• The cathode increases in mass while the anode decreases
• This occurs as copper atoms are oxidised at the anode and form ions while copper ions are reduced at the cathode,
forming copper atoms
• The gain in mass by the negative electrode is the same as the loss in mass by the positive electrode
• Therefore the copper deposited on the negative electrode must be the same copper ions that are lost from the positive
electrode
• That implies that the concentration of the Cu2+ ions in the solution remains constant