ELECTROCHEMISTRY

[ELECTROLYSIS & CHEMICAL CELL]

ELECTROLYSIS
• CONDUCTOR AND ELECTROLYTE :
- To differentiate between an electrolyte and a conductor from the aspect of electrical
conductivity and whether chemical changes occur.
- To list examples of substances which are classified as electrolytes and conductors
• ELECTROLYSIS CELL
- To draw and label the electrolysis cell
- To identify anode and cathode in the electrolysis cell diagram as well as state the charges at
the anode and cathode
• IONIC THEORY
- To relate the existence of free motion ions in an electrolyte, that is the anion and cation,
with anode and cathode and thereafter, the electron flow process in an external circuit
- To explain the electrolysis process and to conclude that the process changes electrical energy
to chemical energy
• FORMATION OF FREE IONS
- To differentiate molten and aqueous electrolytes
- To write the ionization equation of molten and aqueous electrolytes
• REACTION AT ELECTRODE
- To write the discharge equation at the anode, where the anion releases electron. Stress on
ions that are normally selected to discharge, such as chloride ion, hydroxide ion and bromide
ion
- To write the discharge equation at the cathode, where the cation receives electron. Stress on
ions that are normally selected to discharge, such as hydrogen ion, copper ion, silver ion, etc.
• FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE REACTIONS AT THE ELECTRODES
i) The position of ions in the electrochemical series factor – for dilute solutions and inert
electrodes
ii) The concentration factor - for concentrated solutions and inert electrodes
iii) The types of electrode factor - for dilute solutions and inert electrodes
• USES OF ELECTROLYSIS IN INDUSTRIES
- Electrolysis in plating, purifying and extracting metals

CHEMICAL CELL
• ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES (ECS)
- To define and memorise the metal series including hydrogen in ECS
• APPLICATION OF ECS IN DISPLACEMENT OF METALS
- To predict the displacement of metal reactions based on the positions of metals in the ECS
- To write the displacement equation and to state the observations
- To describe the metal displacement experiments to obtain the ECS
• APPLICATION OF ECS IN CHEMICAL CELL
- To determine the negative and positive terminals of a chemical cell
- To predict the voltage of chemical cell
- To determine the direction of electron flow

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ELECTROCHEMISTRY
I. ELECTROLYSIS
II. CHEMICAL CELL

I. ELECTROLYSIS

1. Three classes of substance that can be made based on electrical conductivity

Type of substance Characteristic Example
Conductor Substances that can conduct electric current
without any chemical change, normally metals
and carbon
Electrolyte Chemical compounds that can conduct electric
current only in molten or aqueous state and
undergo chemical changes, but cannot conduct
electric current in solid form
Non-electrolyte Chemical compounds that cannot conduct
electric in molten, aqueous solution and solid
states

2. Electrolysis : The process of chemical change that occurs when an electric current flows through an electrolyte in
molten or aqueous state.

3. Conductor which is dipped into electrolyte, is called as electrode. Electrode is normally made up of inert substances
such as carbon and platinum.

4. Electric current from the battery flows into the electrolyte through the
a) Anode : An electrode that is connected to the positive terminal of the battery
b) Cathode : An electrode that is connected to the negative terminal of the battery

Anode Cathode
(Carbon) (Carbon)

Electrolyte

Simple electrolysis cell

IONIC THEORY
a) A theory that explains how an electrolyte can conduct electricity and undergo chemical changes.
b) An electrolyte consists of free ions (anions and cations) that are mobile because it is in a molten or aqueous state
c) When electric current is flowed into the electrolyte through the anode and cathode :
i) At the anode (+) : Negative ions (anions) are attracted. Anion releases electron and becomes atom/ molecule.
Electrons flow through the external circuit to the cathode
ii) At the cathode (-) : Positive ions (cations) are attracted. Cation receives electron and becomes atom/ molecule

• Electron flows through the external circuit

• Chemical changes occur at the anode and cathode

FORMATION OF FREE IONS IN THE ELECTROLYTE

As electrolyte exist in molten or aqueous state, there are two ways to form free ions:
a) Molten (a solid that is heated until it melts)

- NaCl (s) Na+ (l) + Cl- (l).

- Na2O (s)
- Al2O3 (s)

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 b) Aqueous (a substance that is dissolved in water):

- NaCl (aq) Na+ (aq) + Cl-

H2O H+ + OH-

- CuSO4 (aq)
H2O

- H2SO4 (aq)
H2O

Reactions at the electrodes

a) The ionic equation that occurs at the anode and cathode to produce neutral atom or molecule is called
discharge equation.
b) This equation is called discharge equation because anions and cations experience charge loss by way of
releasing or gaining electrons.
c) Examples of equation :
At the anode : (anion releases electrons)

2Cl- Cl2 + 2e
Electron arrangement diagram:

2Br -

2O2- O2 +4e

4OH- 2H2O + O2 + 4e

At the cathode : (Cation gains electrons)

Na+ + e
Cu2+ + 2e
2H+ + 2e H2
Complete the following ionic discharge equation :
i) Copper (II) ion to copper metal:_________________________________________________.
ii) Lead (II) ion to lead metal:__________________________________________
iii) Silver ion to silver metal :_________________________________________________
iv) Iodide ion to iodine :____________________________________________________________

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SELECTIVE DISCHARGE OF ION

a) When more than one type of ion move towards the electrode during electrolysis, only one type of ion is selected
to be discharged. Selective discharge only occur in aqueous solution because it usually has more than one
type of ion attracted to the anode or cathode.
b) The selection of ion for discharge depends on three factors:

I. The position of ions in the electrochemical series (normally in dilute solution and inert electrode)

II. The concentration of electrolyte (normally in concentrated solution and inert electrode)

III. The types of electrode (when active metal electrode is used)

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I. The position of ions in the electrochemical series:
When electrolysis is conducted on dilute solution and inert electrodes, the cations in the lower position of the
electrochemical series, or anions in the lower position of the anion discharge series, will experince discharge.

Cation: K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Sn2+, Pb2+, H+, Cu2+, Ag+, dan Au+

Increasing ease of discharge of ion, from left to right

Anion F-, SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, Br-, I-, dan OH-

1. Select the ion to be discharged from the following pairs of ions. State at which electrode it occurs and write the
discharge equation:
(a) Hydroxide & Sulphate ions : Discharge equation:..............................................at ..................
(b) Hydroxide & Nitrate ions : Discharge equation ……………………………..at …………..
(c) Hydrogen & Copper(II) ions Discharge equation:..............................................at...................
(d) Hydrogen & Potassium ions Discharge equation:..............................................at...................
(e) Hydrogen & Silver ions Discharge equation:..............................................at....................

2. Complete the following table for the electrolysis of 0.1 mol/dm3 sodium nitrate solution, using carbon electrode.

Apparatus set-up

Write the electrolyte ionisation

equation
At the anode At the cathode
Write the formulae of ions that are
attracted to the anode and cathode
Write the reaction equation at the
anode and cathode

Name of the products at the anode

and cathode
Observations

Confirmatory test
(method and observations of the
test)

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3. Complete the following table for the electrolysis of 0.1 moldm-3 sulphuric acid, using carbon electrodes.

Write the electrolyte ionisation

equation
At the anode At the cathode
Write the formulae of the ions that
are attracted to the anode and
cathode
Write the reaction equation at the
anode and cathode

Name of the products at the anode

and cathode

Observations

Confirmatory test
( method and observations of the
test)

4. Complete the following table for the electrolysis of 0.1 moldm-3 aqueous dilute copper(II) sulphate solution, using
carbon electrodes.

Write the electrolyte ionisation

equation
At the anode At the cathode
Write the formulae of the ions that
are attracted to the anode and
cathode
Write the reaction equation at the
anode and cathode

Name of the products at the anode

and cathode

Observations

I. Electrolyte concentration factor

When electrolysis is carried out using inert electrodes and concentrated solutions, ions that are more
concentrated will be discharged but this is only true for halide ions, which are Cl-, Br- and I-
1. State the selected ions to be discharged at the anode and cathode for the following concentrated solutions.
(a) Concentrated hydrochloric acid solution, using carbon electrodes

Anode : ____________________ Cathode : _______________________

(b) Concentrated potassium iodide solution, using carbon electrodes

Anode : ____________________ Cathode : _______________________

(c) Concentrated sodium chloride solution, using carbon electrodes

Anode : ____________________ Cathode : _______________________
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 2. Complete the following table for the electrolysis of 0.001 moldm-3 hydrochloric acid and 2.0 moldm-3
hydrochloric acid, using carbon electrodes.

Apparatus set-up

The electrolyte ionisation

equation
0.0001 moldm-3 dilute HCl 2.0 moldm-3 concentrated HCl
The ions that move to the
cathode
Discharge equation at the
cathode
Name of the product at the
cathode
The ions that move to the
anode
Discharge equation at the
anode
Name of the product at the
anode
Observations
Confirmatory test
( method and observations
of the test)

The electrolyte
concentration after a while

3. Complete the following table for the electrolysis of 2.0 moldm-3 concentrated sodium iodide solution, using
carbon electrodes

Write the electrolyte ionisation

equation
At the anode At the cathode
Write the formulae of the ions that
are attracted to the anode and
cathode
Write the reaction equation at the
anode and cathode

Name of the products at the anode

and cathode

Observations

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Confirmatory test

II. Types of electrode

There are two types of electrode :
• Inert electrode – An electrode that acts as a conductor of current only and does not undergo any
chemical changes. Normally are made of carbon or platinum.

• Non- inert electrode – An electrode that not only acts as a conductor of current but also undergoes
chemical changes. During the electrolysis, the metal anode will corrode while the reaction at the cathode
is similar to the reaction at carbon electrode. Consist of metal anodes such as copper, silver and nickel.

1.Complete the following table for the electrolysis of 1 mol dm-3 of copper (II) sulphate solution, using carbon and
copper electrodes..

Apparatus set-up

Electrolyte ionisation
equation
Carbon electrode Copper electrode
The ions that move to the
cathode
Discharge equation at the
cathode
Name of the product at the
cathode
The ions that move to the
anode
Discharge equation at the
anode
Name of the product at
anode
Observations
Confirmatory test
( method and observations
of the test)

The electrolyte
concentration after a while
and the explanation

USES OF ELECTROLYSIS
Electrolysis is widely used in industries. Three uses of electrolysis in industries are:
a) _________________________________________________________________

b) _________________________________________________________________

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 c) _________________________________________________________________

1.The following diagram shows the aluminium extraction process.

Substance Z

+
_
Substance Y

Substance W X

a) Name the following substances :

W : ______________ X : _________________Y : __________________ Z : _________________________
b) Which substance act as Anode : _________________ Cathode : __________________
c) Name the product at Anode : ____________________ Cathode : ________________________
d) Write the ionic equation for the reactions at
Anode : _________________ Cathode : _________________________

2. Answer the following questions based on the diagram given below.

Impure copper block Pure copper

Copper (II) sulphate

solution

a) In the purification process, which substance is used as

Anode : _____________________________ Cathode : _____________________________
b) Write the ionic equation that occurs at the
Anode : _____________________________ Cathode : _______________________________
c) What are the observations at the
Anode : _______________________________Cathode : ________________________________

3.The diagram shows how a spoon is plated by using electric current:

Silver plate
Iron spoon

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 0.1 moldm-3 silver nitrate solution

1. a) Name the substances used as

Anode : _____________________Cathode : ____________________
b) Write the ionic equations that occurs at the
Anode : _____________________________________Cathode : _______________________________
c) How do you ensure that the surface of the iron spoon is thinly and smoothly plated with silver metal?
_________________________________________________________________________________________

ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
Electrochemical series is an arrangement of elements according to their tendency to release electrons to form a positive
ion :

1. K
Na
Ca
Mg Increasing ease to release electron to
Al form positive ion (more
Zn electropositive)
Fe
Sn
Pb
H
Cu
Hg
Ag
Au

2. Metals placed higher up in the Electrochemical Series is able to displace metals placed below them from their salt
solutions.

Example : (a) zinc metal + copper(II) sulphate;

Zn + CuSO4 → Zn SO4 + Cu
Explanation :

Zn Zn2+ + 2e - Zinc is more electropositive

- Zinc corrodes

Cu2+ + 2e Cu - Because zinc is more electropositive

- Brown copper metal settled

Zn + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu

(b) Pb + MgSO4 No reaction occurs because lead is less electropositive than magnesium.

(c) State whether the following reactions occur. If the reaction occurs, put a tick (/) and if no reaction
occurs, put a cross (x).
( i ) Copper + Zinc sulphate …………….
(ii) Magnesium + Lead(II) nitrate …………….
(iii) Silver + Sulphuric acid .…………….

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 Chemical Cell

1. A cell that produces electrical energy when chemical reactions occur in it.
2. Produced when two different metals are immersed in an electrolyte and are connected by an external circuit.
3. The voltage of chemical cell depends on the distance between the two metals in the electrochemical series,
where the further the distance between them, the higher is the voltage.

Electrical current produced is detected by

Negative terminal: G
the galvanometer
• More electropositive metal (Chemical energy → Electrical energy)
• Metal atom will release
_
electrons that will flow through _ +
the external circuit
• Metal atom becomes metallic
ion (corrodes)
Positive terminal:
• Less electropositive metal
• The electrons that flow from the
external circuit are received by the
positive ion in the electrolyte
through this terminal.

Example: (a) Zn ZnSO4 CuSO4 Cu cell

Copper
V Zinc

Copper(II) Zinc sulphate

sulphate Dilute sulphuric
acid

(a) Zinc electrode :

(i) _______________________ terminal because _______________________________________
(ii) Equation : _____________________________________________
(iii) Observation : _____________________________________________
Copper electrode :
(i) _______________________ terminal because ________________________________________
(ii) Equation : _____________________________________________
(iii) Observation : _____________________________________________
(a) If the zinc metal is replaced with a magnesium metal, the voltage reading increases because magnesium is
further from copper in the Electrochemical Series.

4. Four main uses of the Electrochemical Series:

(a) to predict the chemical cell terminals
- more electropositive metal - negative terminal
- less electropositive metal - positive terminal
(b) to predict the voltage of chemical cell
- the further the distance between two metals in the Electrochemical Series, the higher is the voltage of
the chemical cell.
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(c) to predict the metal displacement reactions
- more electropositive metal can displace a less electropositive metal from its salt solution.
(d) to predict the selected ion to be discharged at the electrode in an electrolysis.

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