Electrolysis Flashcards
(36 cards)
What equipment is needed
Beaker, electrolyte, cathode and anode, battery, wire
What is an electrolyte
Liquid or solution that contains an ionic compound, the ions are free to move around.
Example of a soluble electrolyte
Copper Sulphate (CuSO4)
What is a soluble electrolyte
A compound dissolved in water
What is an insoluble electrolyte
A compound that needs to be melted to get a molten liquid so that the ions are free to move around
Example of an insolvable electrolyte
Lead Bromide (PbBr2)
What are electrodes
Solid consuctors
What are electrodes made out of
metal or graphite (carbon)
What is the positive electrode
The anode
The is the negative electrode
The cathode
What is the wire for
so the electrons can flow
what is the battery for
to drive the flow of electrons
what does electrolysis mean
‘splitting up with electricity’
what does electrolysis do
a current is passed through to electrolyte to separate the elements in a compound
What are negative ions attracted to
The positive anode
What are positive ions attracted to
the negative cathode
What happens when ions reach an electrode
They are discharged meaning a charger ion becomes a neutral ion
What happens when lead is discharged
It goes to the negative cathode and is discharged to form a layer of pure lead at the bottom of the beaker
What happened when broke is discharged
the atoms pair up to form bromine gas which floats off
What happens to the atoms at the anode
They are oxidised
What happens to the atoms at the cathode
They are reduced
What is oxidation
The ions at the anode lose electrons
What is reduction
The ions at the cathode gain electrons
How do the ions get reduced and oxidised
The electrons from the ions at the positive anode are transported along the wire to the cathode and are given to the ions at the negative cathode
