ELECTROLYSIS
The Process of Chemical decomposition of the
electrolyte by the passage of electricity through its
molten or dissolved state
ELECTROLYTIC CELL
Device consists of
i) Electrolytic tank It is made of glass, wood or
bakelite.
ii) Electrolyte it is in dissolved state or molten
state.
iii) Source of Electricity cell or battery
iv) Electrodes 2 RODS
a) Cathode electrode connected to negative
terminal of battery
b) Anode electrode connected to positive terminal
of battery
ELECTROLYTIC CELL
CATIONS Positively charged ions move towards
CATHODE (-) , gain electrons and get reduced
Anions Negatively charged ions move towards
ANODE(+) , lose electrons and get oxidised
Class XI-XII - Electrolysis of Aq. CuSO4 Using Inert El
ectrode - Dr. Amal K Kumar.mp4
PRODUCTS OF ELECTROLYSIS
PRODUCTS OF ELECTROLYSIS depend on
i) Nature of Materials
ii)Type of electrode
a)INERT ELECTRODE
They act as source or sink for electrons.
They do not participate in electrode reactions.
eg)Pt,Au
b) ACTIVE ELECTRODE
They participate in the electrode reactions.
eg) Cu,Ag
OVER VOLTAGE
Thermodynamically faesible reactions do not seem
to occur because at lower voltage they are slow. This
creates electrical resistance at the electrodes. A higher
potential called OVER POTENTIAL is required to
make the reaction occur
ELECTROLYSIS OF AQUEOUS SODIUM
CHLORIDE SOLUTION
At the Cathode
At the cathode(-):
Na+(aq) + e- → Na(s) reduction Eo =-2.71 v
H2O+ 2e- ½ H2 + OH- reduction Eo = -0.41 v
(l) (g) ( aq)
The reaction with higher reduction potential
will take place.
So H2 gas will be formed instead of Na
ANODE
H2O ½ O2 + 2H+ + 2e- Eo =-1.23 v
Cl - ½ Cl2 + e- -
Eo =-1.36 v
The one with lower reduction potential should take
place. But because of over voltage the reduction
potential of chloride ion is less and so it takes
place. So Cl2 gas is liberated at anode.
Na+ and OH- remain in solution.
ELECTROLYSIS
Electrolysis
of
aqueous ionic compounds
(using inert electrodes)
INERT ELECTRODES
• In the electrolysis of molten
electrolytes, there are only
two kinds of ions. In aqueous
solutions, there are four kinds
of ions; two come from the
electrolyte and two from the
water.
• Of the four ions in an aqueous
solution, only two are
discharged.
ELECTROLYSIS OF SULPHURIC ACID
• At the cathode: Hydrogen ions are discharged to
produce hydrogen gas.
2H+(aq) + 2e- → H2(g)
• At the anode: Hydroxide ions are discharged,
producing oxygen gas.
4OH-(aq) → O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e-
• Overall change:
2H2O(l) → 2H2(g) + O2(g)
• Changes in solution: Only water decomposes.
ACTIVE ELECTRODES
Electrolysis of aq. CuSO4 using copper electrodes
copper being the same element as the ions present in
solution, it is a reactive electrode
The anode will take part in the reaction
the copper electrode dissolves into solution to
replenish the Cu2+ ions discharged at the cathode
Electrolysis of aq. CuSO4
using copper electrodes
At the anode
Cu Cu2+ + 2e-
copper anode dissolves
At the cathode
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu
copper metal deposited
Electrolysis of Copper(II) Sulphate
Solution using Copper Electrodes
• At the cathode: Copper metal is deposited on
the cathode.
• At the anode: The copper in the anode is
oxidised to form copper(II) ions.
• Observation: The copper cathode gains copper
and becomes larger. The copper anode is
oxidised and becomes smaller. The amount of
copper(II) sulphate and the colour of the
solution do not change.
