STARTER

You have 10 min to carry on with the

Redox equations sheet

Watch the demonstration

Electrolysis is splitting up
substances using
electricity
(Lysis is latin for splitting)

What is electrolysis?
Electric current is used to
breakdown a substance made up
of ions
An electrolyte is the name for
the substance being broken down

Electrolysis Apparatus
Cathode
(-ve electrode)

power supply

+v
e

Anode
(+ve electrode)

-ve

Electrolyte

Electrolysis Apparatus
Electrolyte: this
is what will be
electrolysed

Anode
(+ve electrode)

Cathode
(-ve electrode)

power supply

Dont get stressed

in the exam:
Remember PANIC

Positive
Anode
Negative
Is
Cathode

STARTER: Label the diagram!

Act the sentences!

1. Electrolytes contain positive and negative
ions.
2. During electrolysis, positive and negative
electrodes are put into the electrolyte.
3. The positive electrode is called the anode.
4. The negative electrode is called the
cathode.
5. The negative ions (called anions) are
attracted to the anode.
6. At the anode, the negative ions lose
electrons to become atoms/molecules.
7. The positive ions (called cations) are
attracted to the cathode.
8. At the cathode, the positive ions gain
electrons to become atoms/molecules

positive electrode
(anode)

negative electrode

e
-

(cathode)

e
e

Cl2
(g)

Zn
(s)

Zn+

Zn
Cl-

molten zinc
chloride (ions free
to move)

ClZn+
Cl-

ClZn+
ClZn

Zn+

Zn+

Cl-

Cl

Cl-

Zn+

positive electrode
(anode)

negative electrode

e
-

(cathode)

e
e

Cl2
(g)

Zn
(s)

Zn+

Zn
Cl-

molten zinc
chloride (ions free
to move)

ClZn+
Cl-

ClZn+
ClZn

Zn+

Zn+

Cl-

Cl

Cl-

Zn+

positive electrode
(anode)

negative electrode

e
-

(cathode)

e
e

Cl2
(g)

Zn
(s)

Zn+

Zn
Cl-

molten zinc
chloride (ions free
to move)

ClZn+
Cl-

ClZn+
ClZn

Zn+

Zn+

Cl-

Cl

Cl-

Zn+

Draw the sentence

1. Electrolytes contain positive and negative
ions.
2. During electrolysis, positive and negative
electrodes are put into the electrolyte.
3. The positive electrode is called the anode.
4. The negative electrode is called the
cathode.
5. The negative ions (called anions) are
attracted to the anode.
6. At the anode, the negative ions lose
electrons to become atoms/molecules.
7. The positive ions (called cations) are
attracted to the cathode.
8. At the cathode, the positive ions gain
electrons to become atoms/molecules

At the electrodes
Cathode (-)
(negative electrode)
Positive ions go here
(cations).
As metal ions are
positive, they go to
the cathode.
Ions gain electrons.
They are reduced and
become neutral
atoms.

Anode (+)
(positive electrode)
Negative ions go here
(anions).
As non-metal ions are
negative, they go to the
anode.
Ions lose electrons.
They are oxidised and
become neutral atoms
(which react together to
form molecules).

Common ions

Li+, Na+, K+,

Mg2+, Ca2+ , Zn2+
Cu+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+
NH4+ (ammonium ion)
F-, Cl-, Br-, IO2-, S2OH- (hydroxide ion), CO32-, NO3(nitrate ion), SO42- (sulphate ion)

Compound
Sodium
Bromide
Potassium
Iodide
Calcium
Fluoride
Magnesium
Oxide
Lithium
Chloride

Anode

Cathode

True or False
Electrolysis is the splitting of a
substance using electricity.
The anode is negative.
Anions are negative
Aluminium oxide is found in bauxite.
Cathode is negative.
Cations are negative.