Faraday’s law of

Electrolysis
Name : Umme Monira
Khatun
ID : 2020-1-80-037
Section : 02
Department : EEE
 Electrolysis is defined as a process of
decomposing ionic compounds into
their elements by passing a direct
electric current through the compound
in a fluid form. The cations are
reduced at cathode and anions are
oxidized at the anode.

Figure : Electrolysis
When electric current, is, passed through molten sodium chloride, the sodium
ion is attracted by the cathode, from which, it takes an electrode and becomes a
sodium atom.
Chloride ion reaches the anode, gives its electron, and become chlorine atom to
form chlorine molecule.
Na+(in electrolyte) + e–(from cathode) → Na …. At Cathode
Cl–(from electrolyte) → e– + Cl → Cl2 …. At Anode
Electrolysis process, while useful to get elemental forms from compounds
directly, it can also be used indirectly in the metallurgy of alkali and alkaline
earth metals, purification of metals, deposition of metals, preparation of
compounds etc.
 Faraday’s First Laws of
Electrolysis
“The amount of product during
electrolysis is directly proportional
to the quantity of electricity which
Figure : Passing an electric current through molten NaCl decomposes
the material into Na metal and Cl gas. Care must be taken to keep the
passes through the electrolyte
products separated to prevent the spontaneous formation of NaCl solution”
m∝Q
m∝I×t [Q = I × t]
m=Z×I×t [Z = Electrochemical equivalent of electrolyte]
m=Z [If I = 1 A, t = 1 sec]
Electrochemical equivalent is the amount of a substance
deposited by 1 ampere current passing for 1 second
Faraday’s Second Laws of
Electrolysis
“When the same quantity of
electricity passes through solutions of
different electrolytes, the amounts of
the product are directly proportional
to their chemical equivalents.”
Figure: Illustrating Faraday's Second Law of Electrolysis

m1 E1
= [Avogadro’s number = 6.023 × 1023
m2 E2 No of atoms in 1 mol of substance]

[1e = 1.602 × 10-19 C]

1 Faraday = 1 Mole electrons
= 1.602 × 10-19 C × 6.023 × 1023
= 96,500 coulombs