Chapter 6

Electrochemistry

A. Electrolytes & Non-electrolytes

Electrolytes
Substances that can conduct electricity and
undergo chemical changes
Non-electrolytes
Substances that cannot conduct electricity

Electrolyte

Non-electrolyte

Why electrolyte at molten and aqueous state

can conduct electricity?

BECAUSE
There presence of free moving ions in the
electrolyte

B. Electrolysis of Molten Compounds

Electrolysis
A process where compounds in molten or
aqueous state are broken down into their
constituent elements by passing electricity
through them

Electrolytic cell
The set of apparatus needed to conduct
STEPS OCCUR DURING
electrolysis
ELECTROLYSIS
+

Movement of ions to the

electrodes.
Discharges of ions at the
electrodes.

Anode

Cathode
Electrolyte

Graphite or platinum
is usually used as
electrodes because
they are inert.

Important note: Observation

Anode (positive electrode)
Electrolysis product

Observation

Confirmatory test

Chlorine gas

Greenish-yellow gas
bubbles released

Bromine gas

Brown gas released

Place moist blue litmus

paper into test tube
Moist blue litmus paper
turn red

Iodine

Purple gas released

Oxygen gas

Colourless gas bubble

released

Metal (all metal)

The mass of electrode decreased

Copper metal

Brown solid formed

Place a glow wooden

splinter near the mouth
of test tube
The glowing wooden
splinter light up

Important note: Observation

Cathode (negative electrode)
Electrolysis product

Observation

Confirmatory test

Almost all metal

(except copper metal)

Grey solid formed

The mass of electrode
increase

No test for metals

Copper metal

Brown solid formed

Hydrogen gas

Colourless gas bubbles

released

Place a lighted wooden

splinter near the mouth
of test tube
A pop sound
heard/produced

Electrolysis of molten compound

Electrolysis of molten compound

PbBr2
LiCl
MgBr2
PbI2
ZnO
CuCl2
Molten Potassium oxide
Molten Magnesium oxide
Molten Potassium iodide

Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions

Factors that affect the electrolysis of an
aqueous solution
Position of ions in the Electrochemical
Series
Concentration of ions in the electrolytes
Types of electrodes used in the electrolysis

Position of ions in
the Electrochemical Series
The ions that are lower in the electrochemical
series will be selected discharged

The Electrochemical Series

K+

F-

Na+

SO42-

Ca2+

NO3-

Mg2+

Cl-

Al3+

Br-

Zn2+

I-

Fe2+

OH-

Sn2+

Pb2+
H+
Cu2+

Ag+

Ease of discharge
increases

0.01 mol dm-3 of copper(II) sulphate

using carbon as electrodes

Carbon

Carbon
1 mol dm-3 of
copper(II) sulphate
solution

Concentration of ions
If the concentration of a particular ions is
high, the ions is selectively discharged
TIPS:
ANODE
Ion selectively discharged based on CONCENTRATION of
ions
CATHODE
Ion selectively discharged based on position of ions in
Electrochemical Series

2 mol dm-3 of hydrochloric acid, HCl

using platinum as electrodes

Platinum

Platinum
2 mol dm-3 of
hydrochloric acid, HCl

Anode

Cathode

Types of electrodes
Electrolysis of copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4
solution using copper electrode
Electrolysis of silver nitrate, AgNO3 solution
using silver electrode

0.02 mol dm-3 of copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4

using copper as electrodes

Copper

Copper
0.02 mol dm-3 of
copper(II) sulphate,
CuSO4

Anode

Cathode

0.02 mol dm-3 of silver nitrate, AgNO3

using silver as electrodes

Silver

Silver

0.02 mol dm-3 of silver

nitrate, AgNO3

D. Electrolysis in Industries
The most industrial application of electrolysis:
1. extraction
2. purification
3. electroplating of metals

E. Voltaic Cells
Chemical energy to electrical energy
Examples of chemical cell:
simple voltaic cell
Daniell cell
dry cell
alkaline cell
lead-acid accumulator

Simple Voltaic Cell

Two different metals being immersed into an
electrolyte and connected by wire
V

Daniell cell has two types

Use porous pot
Use salt bridge

Use porous pot

Use salt bridge

F. The Electrochemical Series

The Electrochemical Series is series of
element, arranged according to the order of
decreasing tendency to released electrons.
Or the greater the tendency to donate
electrons, the more electropositive is the
metal and the higher it is in the
Electrochemical Series.

Principles Used:
Metals are arranged according to the tendency of
their atoms to release electron.
More the tendency of their atoms to release
electron, the higher located it is in the series.
Elements located at HIGHER part of the
Electrochemical Series are more electropositive
and have higher tendencies to release electrons
to form positive ions.
Example : magnesium is more electropositive
than copper in Electrochemical Series

The Electrochemical Series can be

constructed based on:
Metals are arranged according to their tendency
to release electrons to form positive ion (cation).
metal has a higher tendency to release
electron placed a the higher position in
Electrochemical Series.
the metal act as negative terminal

The ability of a metal to displace another metal

from its salt solution.
If metal is able to displace another metal
from its salt solution, this metal is placed
at the higher position in Electrochemical
Series

The potential difference between two metals.

The further apart between two metals in
the Electrochemical Series, the greater the
potential difference between them.
The greater the voltage produced by the
cell.