Electro-chemistry
*Topics: -
1. Electro chemistry
2. Electrolyte
3. Difference between electrolyte and conductor
4. Electrolysis
5. Electrolysis of:
Molten salt
Dilute Solution
Concentrated solution of NaX (X= Cl, Br, I)
Copper(II)sulfate solution by using carbon and copper electrodes.
6. Industrial use of electro chemistry
1. Electro chemistry: -
-Branch of chemistry in which we study about the reactions, which convert electrical
energy into chemical energy or chemical energy into electrical energy.
-for example use of a battery and electroplating.
2. Electrolyte: -
-Substances which conduct electrical current only in molten and solution form, not in
solid form, are called electrolyte
- In molten and solution form, an electrolyte has freely moving positive and negative
ions.
-All acids, basis and salt are electrolytes.
- Strong acids and strong bases are strong electrolyte.
Electrolytes break into ions when it is in molten or solution form.
3) Difference between electrolyte and conductor: -
Electrolyte Conductor
1- An electrolyte conducts current only in A conductor conducts electric current
molten and solution form not in solid both in molten and solid form.
form.
2- Through an electrolyte current passes Through a conductor current passes due
due to freely moving positive and to delocalized mobile free electrons.
negative ions.
3- when current passes through an There is no chemical change takes place
electrolyte then chemical change takes if current passes through a conductor.
place.
4- All acids, bases and salts are All metals and graphite are conductors
electrolytes.
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4- Electrolysis
-When current passes throw an electrolyte in molten or solution form, then electrolyte
breaks into ions and the positive ions move towards cathode and discharge at
cathode and negative ions moves towards anode and discharge at anode. This
process is called Electrolysis.
Note: The positive electrode is called Anode and negative electrode is called
cathode.
Electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) chloride CuCl2
CuCl2 → Cu2+ + 2Cl-
At cathode Cu2+ + 2e → Cu
At anode 2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e
Observations:
Pink deposition of copper at cathode.
Bubbles of chlorine or bubbles of light green gas at anode.
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5-Electrolysis of Molten salt (PbBr2): -
By the electrolysis of molten salt, metal reduces at cathode and collected at the base
of container. Non-metal is oxidized at anode. This method is use to for extraction of
reactive metals.
Electrolysis of molten lead bromide:
PbBr2 → Pb2+ + Br-
At cathode
Pb2+ + 2e → Pb
At anode
Br- → Br2 + 2e
Current not passed through solid PbBr2 , because in solid state, there are no freely
moving ions.
6- Electrolysis of dilute solution (acid, base, salt): -
By the electrolysis of dilute solution, the bubbles of hydrogen gas are
produced at cathode and bubbles of oxygen gas are produced at anode.
The concentration of the solution increases because the quantity of water
decreases.
H2O → H+ + OH-
At cathode: -
2H+ + 2e → H2
At anode: -
4OH- → 2H2O + O2 +4e
Electrolysis of dilute H2SO4: -
H2SO4 → 2H+ + SO4-2
H2O → H+ + OH-
At Cathode
2H+ +2e → H2
At Anode
4OH- → 2H2O + O2 +4e
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Note: -
For cathode product, we consider reactivity, less reactive ion discharge first.
For anode product we consider concentration of solution only in dilute
solution, hydroxide (OH-) ion discharge at anode produces oxygen, otherwise
halogen is produced at anode.
7- Electrolysis of concentrated solution of NaCl : -
By the electrolysis of conc. Solution of NaCl bubbles of chlorine gas are produced
at anode and bubbles of hydrogen gas at cathode. The nature of solution
becomes basic\ alkaline due to majority of OH- (hydroxide) ions.
This method is used in industry for preparation of sodium hydroxide which is
separated by evaporation.
NaCl → Na+ + Cl-
H2O → H+ + OH-
At cathode 2H+ +2e → H2
At anode 2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e
8- Electrolysis of copper(II)sulfate: -
Case 1 – Electrolysis of copper (II) sulfate. Solution using carbon (inert) electrode: -
CuSO4 → Cu2+ + SO42-
H2O → H+ + OH-
At cathode
Cu2+ + 2e → Cu
At anode
4OH- → 2H2O + O2 +4e
Note :
By the electrolysis of copper (II) sulfate solution by using inert
electrodes, pink copper deposit at cathode and bubbles of colorless gas
(oxygen) are produced at anode. The blue color of CuSO4 solution will turn
into colorless due to no replaceable copper ions.
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Case 2 – Electrolysis of copper (II) sulfate solution by using copper (active)
electrode.
CuSO4 → Cu2+ + SO42-
H2O → H+ + OH-
At cathode
Cu2+ + 2e → Cu
At anode
Cu → Cu2+ + 2e
Note :
By the electrolysis of copper (II) sulfate solution by using copper electrodes, pink
copper deposits at cathode and anode dissolve. The blue color and concentration of
CuSO4 solution remains unchanged.
(Anode mass – same or decrease) (Cathode mass – same or increase)
7) Industrial use of electro chemistry:
1) Electroplating (silver)
2) Extraction of metal (aluminum)
2) Electroplating (e.g. silver plating on a spoon): -
Electroplating is the process in which a metal is coated on the surface of another
metal by using electrolysis.
Conditions
Object should be at cathode.
The metal which is to be plated on other metal should be at anode.
Electrolyte must contain the ions of anode metal.
Purpose:
Electroplating is used to prevent a metal from rusting and to make it good looking
and attractive.
AgNO3 → Ag+ + NO3-
H2O → H+ + OH-
At cathode Ag+ + e → Ag
At anode Ag → Ag+ + e
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3) Extraction of metal (aluminum): -
Aluminum is extracted by bauxite (Al2O3.2H2O) ore. This extraction has two
main steps:
1. Preparation of alumina (Al2O3) from bauxite.
2. Electrolysis of molten alumina.
2- Electrolysis of molten alumina
Melting point of pure alumina is 2045oC, to reduce the MP cryolite (Na3AlF6) is
added.
The M.P of mixture = 950oC
- Decrease in M.P, reduces the process cost.
Al2O3 → 2Al3+ + 3O2-
At cathode Al3+ + 3e → Al
At anode 4O2- → O2 + 4e
Note: In the extraction of aluminum, graphite anodes are need to replaced after
sometime because these anodes are burned due to the high temperature and
oxygen gas produced at anode. Therefore the anodes are fixed on clamps.
Uses of aluminum:
1) Aluminum is used in the preparation of airplane as it is light weight.
2) Aluminum is used to make high tension cable as it is a good conductor of
electricity.
3) Aluminum is used to make cooking utensil as it is a good conductor of heat
and having un reactive layer of Aluminum Oxide.
4) Aluminum is used to make aluminum foil which is used to cover food stuff
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Inertness of aluminum
- Aluminum has a protecting layer of aluminum oxide which is unreactive due to
this layer, Aluminum has less reactivity.
Q) Aluminum is the third largest element in the earth crust, why is it expensive?
- Ans) This is because as it is more reactive, it is extracted by electrolysis which
is an expensive process.
Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell:
The hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The
only chemical product is water, which is harmless.
The hydrogen is supplied from a fuel tank, and the oxygen is taken from the air.
The reaction in the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is a redox reaction.
• Hydrogen gives up electrons at the anode. It is
oxidised: 2H2 ----- 4H+ + 4e –
• Oxygen accepts electrons at the cathode. It is
reduced: O2 + 4H+ + 4e- ----- 2H2O
or 2H2O + O2 + 4e- ---- 4OH-
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Comparison
The hydrogen oxygen fuel cell The Petrol engine
Advantages Advantages
• The only chemical produced is water, • Petrol filling stations are widely
which is harmless and no pollutant is available.
produced.
• Petrol is relatively cheap.
• Hydrogen can be made by the
electrolysis of water which is renewable Disadvantages
source. • The burning of petrol in engines
produce pollutant gases such as oxides
Disadvantages of carbon oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
• Hydrogen is more difficult and dioxide.
expensive to store compared to petrol as
it is very flammable and easily explodes • Petrol is obtained from crude oil, a
when under pressure. limited and nonrenewable resource.
• Hydrogen filling stations are not yet
widely available.
• Hydrogen is often obtained by methods
that involve the combustion of fossil
fuels, therefore releasing carbon dioxide
and other pollutants into the atmosphere.
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03152008802
Quick Revision
Electrolysis: chemical decomposition of an ionic compound by passing an electric
current through a liquid or in solution form.
Note: Graphite and Platinum are inert electrodes, other metals are active electrodes.
For cathode product, we consider reactivity of the cat ion, less reactive cat ion
discharge first at cathode.
For anode product we consider concentration of the solution, only in dilute
solution, hydroxide (OH-) ion discharge at anode produces oxygen gas,
otherwise halogen will be produced at anode.
Sulfate (SO4-2) ion and nitrate (NO3-1) ion are spectator ions, never discharge
at anode.
In cathode equation electrons are written on the left side (reduction) and in
anode equation electrons are written on the right side (oxidation).
During electrolysis, electrons move in the external circuit towards the cathode.
Electrolyte Nature of solution Cathode Anode
Reduction Oxidation
Dilute. Solution Concentration Hydrogen Oxygen bubbles
acid, base salt (except increases bubbles
CuSO4 and HCl).
Conc. solution of NaCl Solution becomes Hydrogen Chlorine bubbles
alkaline bubbles
CuSO4 Solution Blue colour Pink Copper Oxygen bubbles
(inert electrode) decolorized
CuSO4 Solution Blue colour and Pink Copper Anode dissolves
(copper electrode) concentration
remains
unchanged
Molten salt - Metal Nonmetal
Electroplating: Solution must Object must be Anode made by
Need to prevent metal contains the salt of connected to the the metal which is
from rusting and make anode metal cathode going to be plate
it good looking on the object
9 By Munawwar Mujahid
03152008802