mohd faisol mansor/chemistry form 4/chapter 6

CHAPTER 6
ELECTROCHEMISTRY

Electrolytes are
substances that can
conduct electricity when
they are in molten state
and aqueous solution.
This due to the present of
free moving ions in the
electrolytes.

Non-electrolytes are
substances that can not
conduct electricity when
they are in all state. This
because non-electrolyte
exist as molecule which
means contain no ions.

Electrolysis is a process
whereby compounds in
molten or aqueous state
are broken down into
their constituent
elements by passing
electricity through them.

Example
2NaCl (l)

2Na (s) +

Cl2 (g)

Chlorine Gas
Sodium Metal
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Electrolytic Cell (molten state)

[ Draw the apparatus of electrolysis molten sodium chloride ]

a) Electrode attach to positive terminal (battery)

b) Electrode attach to negative terminal (battery)

c) Anion (negative ion) discharged at electrode

Anion will _______________ electrons.

d) Cation (positive ion) discharged at electrode

Cation will ______________ electrons.

e) Electron flow from ___________________ to ___________________
f) Electrolytic Cell will change the _______________ energy to
________________ energy.

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Product of Electrolysis
Ion
discharged
at Cathode
All ion metal
except
Copper ion

Observation

Half-equation

Product

Observation

Half-equation

Product

Copper ion
Hydrogen
ion
Ion
discharged
at Anode
Oxide ion
Chloride ion
Bromide ion
Iodide ion
Hydroxide
ion
Gas Test
Hydrogen
gas
Oxygen gas
Chlorine gas
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Electrolysis Molten Lead(II) Bromide

1.

State the ion consists in the electrolyte.

2.

Which electrode is
a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

3.

Which ion will be discharged at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

4.

State the observation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

5.

State the product formed at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

6.

Write the half equation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

7.

Draw the electron flow on the diagram above.

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Exercise

1. State the ion present in the following electrolyte. Predict the

products from the electrolysis of some molten compound and
write the ionic equation involved.
a) Magnesium oxide
b) Copper(II) chloride
c) Lead(II) iodide

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2. State the meaning of the following terms.

a) Anode

b) Cathode

c) Electrolysis

3. A molten oxide, R2O3 is electrolysed using carbon electrodes.

a) Draw a labeled diagram to show the set-up of apparatus for
the electrolysis.

b) What ions are present in the electrolyte? Write the formulae for
the ions present in the electrolyte.

c) State the ions move to each of the electrodes during

electrolysis.

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d) Write half equation of the reaction at each of the electrodes.

e) Name the substances formed at each of the electrodes.

f) Label the flow of electron in the diagram (a).

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Electrolysis of Aqueous Solution

Aqueous solution consists of four types of ions. Two ions from the
compound and two ions from the water.
Example:
Molten sodium chloride

Sodium chloride solution

Generally, there are 3 factors that may influence the selective of ions
during electrolysis of an aqueous solution
1. Position of ions in the electrochemical series
2. Concentration of ions in the electrolytes
3. Types of electrodes used in the electrolysis

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Position of ions in the electrochemical series (ECS)

The ions that are lower in the ECS will selected to be discharged.
[ Draw the apparatus of electrolysis sodium chloride solution ]

1.

State the ion consists in the electrolyte.

2.

Which electrode is
a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

3.

Which ion will be discharged at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

4.

State the observation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

5.

State the product formed at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

6.

Write the half equation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

7.

Draw the electron flow on the diagram above.

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Exercise

1.
Carbon electrode

Copper(II)
sulphate solution

For the electrolysis of copper(II) sulphate solution,

(a) State all the ions that are present in the electrolyte.

(b) State the ions in (a) which discharged to the

i) anode

ii) cathode :
(c) Write a half equation for the reaction at the
i) anode

ii) cathode :
(d) The blue colour of copper(II) sulphate solution fades if the
electrolysis is carried for a long period of time. Explain why.

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2.

Carbon electrode
Dilute sulphuric
acid

For the electrolysis of dilute sulphuric acid,

a) State all the ions that are present in the electrolyte

b) State the ion in (a) which discharged to

i) anode
ii) cathode
c) Write half equation for the reaction at the
i) anode
ii) cathode
d) Explain why the concentration of dilute sulphuric acid increases
gradually during the electrolysis

3. Base on the answer 1(c) and 2(c), name the process that occur
at the
a) anode
b) cathode

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Concentration of ions in the electrolytes

If the concentrations of particular ions are high, the ion is selectively
discharged
[ Draw the apparatus of electrolysis concentrated sodium chloride solution ]

1.

State the ion consists in the electrolyte.

2.

Which electrode is
a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

3.

Which ion will be discharged at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

4.

State the observation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

5.

State the product formed at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

6.

Write the half equation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

7.

Draw the electron flow on the diagram above.

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Exercise

1.

Carbon
electrode
Dilute Hydrochloric
acid solution

Experiment A

Carbon
electrode
Concentrated
Hydrochloric acid
solution
Experiment B
Diagram above show the apparatus set up for the experiments of
electrolysis using two different concentration of hydrochloric acid.
a) State all the ions that are present in the electrolyte
i) Experiment A :
ii) Experiment B :

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b) State the ion in (a) which discharged to anode and cathode in

i) Experiment A :
ii) Experiment B :
c) Write half equation for the reaction at the anode and cathode in
i) Experiment A :

ii) Experiment B :

d) State the observation occur at cathode and anode in

i) Experiment A :

ii) Experiment B :

e) State the product formed at cathode and anode in

i) Experiment A :

ii) Experiment B :

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Types of electrodes used in the electrolysis

If using the active electrode at anode, ions that are present in the
electrolytes are not discharge. Instead the active electrode will
corrodes and dissolves in the electrolytes.
[ Draw the apparatus of electrolysis silver chloride solution using silver electrodes ]

1.

State the ion consists in the electrolyte.

2.

Which electrode is
a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

3.

Which ion will be discharged at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

4.

State the observation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

5.

State the product formed at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=

6.

Write the half equation at

a) Cathode
=
b) Anode
=
Draw the electron flow on the diagram above.

7.

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Exercise

1.

Carbon
electrode
Copper(II) sulphate
solution
Experiment A

Copper
plate

Copper(II) sulphate
solution
Experiment B
Diagram above show the apparatus set up for the experiments of
electrolysis using two different electrodes immersed in copper(II)
sulphate solution.
a) State all the ions that are present in the electrolyte
i) Experiment A :
ii) Experiment B :

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b) State the observation occur at anode and cathode in

i) Experiment A :

ii) Experiment B :

c) Write half equation for the reaction at the anode and cathode in
i) Experiment A :

ii) Experiment B :

d) Explain the observation on the colour of copper(II) sulphate

solution in
i) Experiment A :

ii) Experiment B :

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Electrolysis in Industry
1)
Most common
application:

Extraction of Metal
Extraction of aluminium
from aluminium oxide.

i) Extraction of metal
ii) Purification of metal
iii) Electroplating

2)

3)

Purification of Metal
In purification:
The impure metal is made to be the
anode
The cathode is a thin layer of pure metal

Electroplating
Electroplating is a process to coat
one metal onto another metal.
The purposes of electroplating
onto metal are:i) Make it look more attractive
ii) more resistant to corrosion
In electroplating :
object to be electroplated
as the cathode
anode is the metal used for plating
Electrolyte is a solution of the
compound of the electroplating
metal

Copper nugget

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Extraction of Metal

[ Draw the apparatus of electrolysis for extraction of aluminium from aluminium oxide ]

1) Ion present in electrolyte =

2) Ion discharged
a) Cathode

b) Anode

3) Observation
a) Cathode

b) Anode

4) Half equation
a) Cathode

b) Anode

5)Function of cryolite, Na3AlF6

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Purification of Metal

[ Draw the apparatus of electrolysis for purification of impure copper ]

1) Ion present in electrolyte =

2) Ion discharged
a) Cathode

b) Anode

3) Observation
a) Cathode

b) Anode

4) Half equation
a) Cathode

b) Anode

5) Colour changes of electrolyte

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Electroplating

[ Draw the apparatus of electrolysis to electroplate key by using copper as electrode ]

1) Ion present in electrolyte =

2) Ion discharged
a) Cathode

b) Anode

3) Observation
a) Cathode

b) Anode

4) Half equation
a) Cathode

b) Anode

5) Colour changes of electrolyte

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Voltaic Cells
A simple voltaic cell can be made by dipping two different
types of metals in an electrolyte
Electron flow from one metal to another metal through the
connecting wire in the external circuit.
More electropositive metal will release electron, thus act as
the negative terminal. Less electropositive metal will accept
electron and act as the positive terminal.
Continuous flow of electron produces an electric current.

Simple zinc-copper
Voltaic

Zinc more reactive than

copper
Zinc will act as terminal
________________, and
copper will act as
terminal ______________.
Zinc will release electron
to form Zn 2+.
Half equation:

Cu 2+ ions from copper(II) sulphate solution receive

electron to form copper metal.
Half equation :
Overall equation:
The further the distance between the position of two
metals is in ECS the bigger the cell voltage.
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Different Types of Voltaic Cells

Two types of voltaic cell:
1) Primary cells: non rechargeable cell
Example: Daniell cell, dry cells, alkaline cell
2) Secondary cells: rechargeable cells
Example: Lead-acid accumulator, Nickel-cadmium

Daniell Cell 1
1. Used salt bridge
Salt bridge contain inert
ions or salt that does not
react with electrolyte.
Example:

2. Used porous pot

Daniell Cell 2

Porous pot has fine pores

that allow ions flow through.
What is the function of salt
bridge and porous pot in
Daniell Cell?

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Exercise
1.

For the simple voltaic cell that you see at the diagram

Mg

Cu
Magnesium sulphate
solution

a) State how electricity was produced.

b) What are the chemical changes that occur at the

magnesium ribbon and the copper plate.

c) Write the half equation for the changes that occur at each
the electrode.

d) What is the direction of electron flow from terminal to

another through the external circuit.

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mohd faisol mansor/chemistry form 4/chapter 6

Electrochemical series (ECS)

Tendency of
metal to release
electrons to
form ions
increases

Tendency of cation
to receive
electrons to form
metals
increases

The electrochemical series (ECS) can be constructed by two

method:
a) The potential difference (voltage difference) between pairs of
metal.
b) The ability of metal to displace another metal from its salt solution.

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The potential difference (voltage difference) between pairs of metal.

The bigger the voltage value the further apart their position.
The metal act as negative terminal is placed at higher position
in electrochemical series (ECS).
How to determine the positive/negative terminal?

Example: The voltaic cells are constructed as shown in the figure. The
voltmeter reading of the cell I is 1.1 V while that of cell II is
2.5 V.

Cell 1

Cell 2

Arrange the metals in descending order in the

electrochemical series.

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The ability of metal to displace another metal from its salt solution
If the M can displace metal N from an aqueous N salt solution, then:
i) Metal M is more electropositive than metal N
ii) Metal M is placed at a higher position than metal N in the ECS
Example: Zinc and copper(II) sulphate sulphate solution

Observation :

Half-equation :

The Important of ECS

ECS can be used to determine:
The terminal of voltaic cell
The standard cell voltage
The ability of a metal to displace another metal from its
salt solution.
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Exercise
1.

The diagram shows an electrolytic cell. The left section of the cell
(S) is a source of electricity to drive the right section (T) of the
cell.

Copper

Zinc

Aluminium

Aluminium
Sulphate

S
Zinc Sulphate

Copper(II) Sulphate

a) State the change of energy in cell S

b) i) For cell S, state the positive terminal of the cell

ii) Explain your choice for b(i)

c) i) State what has happened at the negative terminal

ii) What process has happened in this electrode

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d) Explain why the color of copper(II) sulphate remain unchanged

e) Determine the anode of cell T

f) Write down the half equation for the cathode in cell T

g) What will happened if the aluminium in cell S is replaced by copper

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