OBJECTIVES

CORE know that electrolysis can be used to split up compounds. know the meaning of the terms electrode, electrolyte, anode and cathode be able to describe the effect of chlorine on damp litmus paper be able to test for hydrogen (lighted splint) and oxygen (glowing splint) understand the economic importance of salt, and be aware of the need for alkali, chlorine and hydrogen made from this raw material EXTENDED know that electrolysis can be used to purify metals know that reactive metals are extracted by electrolysis know that metals or hydrogen are produced at the cathode, and nonmetals other than hydrogen are produced at the anode, during electrolysis of concentrated solutions of ionic compounds understand the need for ionic mobility in electrolysis

DEFINITIONS

Because valence electrons are the glue that hold together compounds, and movement of electrons is also the basis of electricity, we can use an electrical current to move electrons between atoms, break and make bonds, and therefore split and create compounds.

ELECTROLYSIS:- Chemical decomposition produced by passing a direct electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions ELECTRODE:- a conductor, not necessarily metallic, through which a current enters or leaves a nonmetallic medium, as an electrolytic cell. Often made of graphite or platinum. ANODE:- A positively charged electrode, to which anions (negatively charged ions) are attracted. CATHODE:- A negatively charged electrode, to which cations (positively charged ions) are attracted ELECTROLYTE:- An electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. Usually an ionic water soluble compound

1) EXTRACTION OF REACTIVE METALS

Any of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and aluminium are too reactive to be reduced with carbon (coke) and so need to be extracted by electrolysis. In practice Zinc is also extracted from Zinc Blende (mostly ZnS) to obtain purer Zinc than can be got through reduction with carbon. The cathode attracts cations (+ve ions) and so metals (or hydrogen) are formed there when their ions obtain electrons. The Anode attracts anions (-ve ions) and so usually non-metals (often gases, e.g. Oxygen, Chlorine) are formed there when they relinquish their electrons and become atoms and then molecules.

EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM FROM BAUXITE

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earths crust. Unfortunately it is reactive and requires electrolysis as a method of extraction, which is quite expensive as first either the ore (solid with high m.p.) must be melted or dissolved in cryolite [Na3AlF6], either way usually requires energy for heating. Secondly electrolysis requires large amounts of electricity to split the compound.

A lump of rock containing bauxite

NB: the electrode are made from graphite, which has to be replaced every so often. This electrolytic cell is unusual in that the casing is the cathode.

The alumina (pure Al2O3 - m.p. = 2040 C) is dissolved in molten cryolite - this lowers the melting point by about 1000C - saves money!

Powdered Al2O3 AKA Alumina

ALUMINIUM EXTRACTION / BAUXITE (AL2O3) ELECTROLYSIS

ANODE: C + O2 CO2
Carbon dioxide released Carbon dioxide released The carbon anodes must be renewed when they are used up

Between 13000 and 15000 kilowatt-hours of electricity are used to make one tonne of aluminium

oxygen ions

C A R B O N

many graphite anodes (all positive)

C A R B O N

2Al2O3

oxygen ions

Al + O2

A very strong steel container

molten Al2O3 (+ cryolite) at 10000 C

liquid aluminium

graphite cathode (negative) Adding cryolite decreases the melting temperature. This is done to save energy.

liquid aluminium

liquid aluminium

2) ELECTROPLATING
By using an electrically conducting objective (usually metallic) as the cathode, and by using a anode of the metal you wish to plate the object with, and an electrolyte containing metal ions of the same metal you can add a thin (cost-effective) layer of a particular metal. Performed on the object to bestow a desired property e.g. corrosion protection, abrasion and wear resistance, lubricity, aesthetic qualities, etc The anode continually replenishes the metallic cations in the solution and thus gradually disintegrates (dissolves).

SILVER PLATING A SPOON

3) ELECTROREFINING
Used specifically for metals such as copper, nickel cobalt and lead Electrorefining often provides a particularly high purity of metal. And the by products of copper purification are valuable metals such as gold and silver ("anode sludge"). Copper for communications must be of a high purity to reduce resistance and so if the metal often electrorefined. At the anode metal atoms are oxidized to ions and so dissolve. At the cathode they are reduced back to the metal. Hence both electrodes are of the same metal, the anode impure and the cathode pure.

ELECTROREFINING COPPER

4) PRODUCTION OF GASES
Very often gases are produced at the anode (anions loose electrons - oxidized), hydrogen is an excpetion because it is a cation and therefore produced at the cathode. We need to be able to test for these gases:CHLORINE:
Chlorine will dissociate disproportionately to form HCl and HOCl in water, HCl with initially turn the blue litmus red. Then HOCl, which is a strong oxidizing agent will bleach the pigments in litmus paper.

HYDROGEN: Since hydrogen is a flammable reactive gas the

easily ignites it will make a small explosion (squeaky pop) when lit.

OXYGEN:

Fires like oxygen (remember the fire triangle). So a glowing splint (no flame) will burst into flames when placed in oxygen

ELECTROLYSIS OF BRINE
Water saturated or nearly saturated with salt (usually sodium chloride) is known as brine. It is usually obtained from evaporated seawater or rock salt. The specific apparatus used is either a membrane of a diaphragm cell, which prevents the chlorine gas from reacting with other products by separating them. Three important products come from the process: CHLORINE GAS Cl2(g) SODIUM HYDROXIDE NaOH(aq) HYDROGEN GAS H2(g)
NB: Sodium is not obtained on its reduction at the cathode because it immediately reacts with water to form its hydroxide. If pure sodium is required, the sodium chloride must be molten (801 C), not Na+ +e- Na aqueous, and the anode and Na + H2O NaOH + H2 cathode must be made from steel so as to minimize corrosion. This is known as a Downs cell.

2Cl- Cl2 + 2e-

 1. In electrolysis, an electric current is used to

a) b) c) d) cause a chemical change. produce a battery. generate heat. run a motor

2.During the electrolysis of water, the region around the anode

a) b) c) d) changes color. turns basic. turns acidic. remains neutral.

3. Choose the correct words for the spaces. In the net reaction for the electrolysis of water, __________ is/are produced at the cathode and ___________ is/are produced at the anode.
a) b) c) d) hydrogen, oxygen oxygen, hydrogen hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions hydroxide ions, hydrogen ions

 4. In the process of electroplating, the metal is deposited by

reduction at the anode. reduction at the cathode. oxidation at the anode. oxidation at the cathode.