Electrolysis of Aqueous solutions. Flashcards
1
Q
What are inert electrodes?
A
Unreactive electrodes that do not change during the reaction.
2
Q
What are inert electrodes normally made from?
A
Platinum or graphite as they are unreactive metals.
3
Q
What does the aqueous solution contain in electrolysis?
A
Ions from ionic compounds and hydrogen and hydroxide ions from water.
4
Q
What rules do you need to know when predicting the products at the cathode and anode?
A
1) Hydrogen is produced at the cathode if only the metal is more reactive, if not then the metal is produced instead.
2) Oxygen is produced at the anode, however, if there is an ion from an element in group 7 and at a high enough concentration then that group 7 element is produced instead.
5
Q
List the reactivity series:
A
most reactive potassium sodium calcium magnesium aluminium zinc iron tin lead (hydrogen) copper silver gold platinum least reactive
