GCSE CHEMISTRY

1. PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY
E. ELECTROLYSIS
Electrolysis is the decomposition of a compound using electricity:

The decomposition of molten lead bromide occurs using the apparatus above. A
current is passed through graphite rods called electrodes.
The negative terminal is attached to one rod, which becomes the negative
electrode, thecathode.
The positive terminal is attached to the other rod. This becomes a positive
electrode, theanode.
Note: The compound must be molten to allow the charged ions to flow. You
cannot carry out electrolysis on solid lead bromide.
How does lead bromide decompose?

The diagram above shows how the oppositely charged ions are attracted to
oppositely charged electrodes.
Cations (positive ions - metal ions and hydrogen) travel to the negative
electrode, the cathode.
Anions (negative ions - non-metal ions) travel to the positive electrode, the
anode.
Cations are positive so the go to the negative electrode, the cathode.
Anions are negative so go to the positive electrode, the anode.
The electrolysis of other compounds

Summary of electrolysis:
1. All ionic compounds when molten can be decomposed when electricity is
passed through using electrolysis.
2. The metal and hydrogen always forms at the cathode.
3. Non-metal always forms at the anode.
4. Cations travel to the cathode.
5. Anions travel to the anode.
6. The electrodes are made from inert material such as graphite, so that they
do not involve themselves with the reaction.
7. The molten substance been electrolysed is called the electrolyte.
Examples:

At the cathode:
At the anode:

At the cathode:
At the anode:

The electrolysis of solutions

When a salt is dissolved in water, its ions become mobile.
Hence, the solution can be electrolysed. However, the products from the salt
solution will be different to the molten solution because of the presence of the
water, which itself produces ions.
During electrolysis, these ions compete with the metal and non-metal ions from
the dissolved salts, to receive or give up electrons.
So who wins?
At the cathode:
The more reactive a metal is the more it prefers being ions.
Therefore, if a reactive metal such as zinc or magnesium is present it will remain
as the ions. The H+ ions will accept the electrons and hydrogen gas will be given
off at the cathode.
If a less reactive metal, such as copper or silver is present it would rather accept
the electrons than H+.
Hence, the metal forms at the cathode.
At the anode:
If halide ions are present, Cl-, Br-, I-, they will give up there electrons to become
molecules ofCl2, Br2 and I2 respectively.
If no halogen is present, OH- will give up electrons more readily than other nonmetal ions, and oxygen forms.

Examples:
Potassium bromide solution (aq):
At the cathode:
At the anode:
Copper (II) nitrate solution (aq):
At the cathode:
At the anode:

Depositing metals - copper

Depositing Copper:
When a solution of copper (II) sulphate is electrolysed using copper
electrodes the following reactions occur:
The animation shows what happens when electrolysis begins. Copper ions leave
the anode and are attracted to the cathode, where they are deposited as copper
atoms. The pure copper cathode increases greatly in size, while the anode
dwindles away. The impurities left behind at the anode form a sludge beneath it.

At the cathode:
Copper ions become copper atoms:
The copper atoms deposit themselves on the cathode.
At the anode:
The copper anode dissolves, forming copper ions:
mass of copper lost at anode = mass of copper gained at cathode
This method is used to purify copper in industry. By placing the impure copper at
the anode, pure copper is formed at the cathode, as the copper ions migrate
from the impure copper anode.

calculate the amounts of the products of the electrolysis of molten salts and
aqueous solutions
One faraday is 96500 coulombs. It is also one mole of electrons.
If current of 0.2 Apms is passed through copper(ll) sulphate for tow hours, how
much copper do you get?
Write out the half equation
Cu2+ + 2e > Cu
Work out coulombs of electrons flowing
Coulombs= current x time
Q= IT
time is 2x60x60 (times 60 makes minutes, times 60 again makes it seconds)
Q= 0.2 x 7200= 1440 coulombs
Convert C into moles of electrons
Moles= C/Faraday
Mol= 1440/96500
Mol= 0.015
Work out scale factor
Cu2+ + 2e > Cu
For every 2 moles of electrons, there will be one Cu
Sf= Moles of product/ moles of electrons
Sf= 1/2
Sf= a half
Work out moles of product using Scale factor
so we do the moles of electrons times the scale factor
0.015x1/2= 0.0075 Moles of Cu
Convert moles into mass
Moles x Mr
0.0075 x 63.5= 0.48g of copper

Now, recall that one faraday represents one mole of electrons.

Calculate the amounts of the products of the electrolysis of molten salts
and aqueous solutions.

What does this mean?

How much charge?
In Physics the amount of charge is measured in Coulombs.
It is calculated with the formula :
Q=It
Charge (C) = Current (A) x Time (s)
So, if 20 amps flows for 20 seconds the total charge = 20 x20 = 40 C
Or, if 0.5 amps flows for 3 minutes the total charge = 0.5 x 3 x 60 = 90 C

Moles and Farads

In the half equation:

Li

+ 1e :

1 moles of electrons form 1 mole of Lithium.

In the half equation:
Mg

2+

Mg

+ 2e

2 moles of electrons form 1 mole of Magnesium.

1 Mole of Electrons is called 1 Farad and is equal to 96,000 Coulombs.

So, Farads = Coulombs 96,000

So, if 4 amps flows for 40 seconds Charge = 4 x 40 = 160 C

How many Farads is this?

Farads = Coulombs/96,000 = 160/96,000 = 0.0017 F

So, 0.0017 moles of electrons flowed which might release 0.0017 moles of
Lithium.
But it would only produce 0.0017/2 = 0.0008 moles of Magnesium

Electroplating
You can use electrolysis to coat one metal with another. This is
called electroplating. Electroplating is used a great deal in industry, for
example; chrome-plating car bumpers.
If you wanted to coat a nickel vase with silver, you would set the vase as the
cathode and the silver as the anode.

Anode reaction (..is silver, becomes thinner)

grey, becomes thicker)

Cathode reaction(shinney

The Chlor-alkali industry

The electrolysis of salt water:
This industry has been based around the electrolysis of brine, salty
water!

At the cathode: Hydrogen bubbles off:

At the anode: Chlorine bubbles off:
Na+ and OH- ions are left behind, which means a solution of sodium
hydroxide forms.
The products from the electrolysis of brine are:
1. sodium hydroxide.
2. chlorine.
3. hydrogen.
These products are used for many purposes:
Sodium hydroxide is used for making, soaps, detergents and paper.
Chlorine is used for making, PVC, solvents, bleach, drugs, hydrochloric
acid, paints and dyes.
Hydrogen is used for making fuel for rockets and nylon.