Conduction in an electrolytic cell

Current passes around the external circuit to and from the battery in the normal way i.e. by the movement of electrons. However, in the cell itself there is a very different process occurring.

Positive ions from the electrolyte pick up electrons at the cathode and use them to perform reduction of the ion (reduction = addition of electrons). At the same time negative ions migrate to the positive electrode (anode) to drop off electrons and get oxidised (oxidation = loss of electrons).

Overall, there are ions picking up electrons from one electrode (the cathode) and DIFFERENT IONS dropping off different electrons at the other electrode (anode). The net effect is as if electrons are jumping from one electrode to the other. It should be stressed that at no time do electrons cross the electrolyte. The battery, however, cannot distinguish between electrons and, to all intents and purposes, as a current passes around the external circuit, it seems also to pass through the electrolyte.

An analogy

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Electrolysis of molten lead(II) bromide

Lead bromide is an ionic solid and as such contains charged particles (ions). While in the solid state these ions are not free to move, but once the structure is melted the ions become free to move. If an electrical potential is applied across some molten lead(II) bromide, the lead 2+ ions can move to the cathode (negative electrode) and the bromide (negative) ions move to the anode (positive electrode). Once at their respective electrodes, the ions can undergo reaction.

At the anode (positive electrode)

The negative bromide ions arrive and drop off electrons to become bromine atoms:

Br- - 1e Br

These single atoms then pair up to become bromine molecules, which, at the temperature of the molten lead(II) bromide, is a gas:

2Br Br2(g)

Overall the process could be represented as:

2Br- - 2e Br2(g)

At the cathode (negative electrode)

The lead 2+ ions move to the cathode where they pick up electrons:

Pb2+ + 2e Pb(l)

At the temperature of the molten lead(II) bromide the lead formed falls to the bottom of the melt as a silvery liquid.

The overall electrolysis

The overall process occurring in the electrolytic cell can be obtained by adding together the two equations for the processes going on at the two electrodes (ensuring that the same number of electrons appear in each equation.

2Br- - 2e Br2(g) Pb2+ + 2e Pb(l) PbBr2 Pb(l) + Br2(g)

As we can see, the net result is that the ionic compound lead(II) bromide has been broken apart into its original elements. The term, 'electrolysis' means literally broken apart (lysis) by electricity (electro).

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Electrolysis of molten sodium chloride

Sodium chloride contains Na⁺ ions and Cl^- ions

The positive sodium ions are attracted by electrostatic forces to the cathode (negative electrode). Once they get there they encounter many avilable electrons. Each sodium ion can accept one electron and be reduced to a sodium atom:

Na+ + 1e Na

The negative chloride ions are attracted to the positive electrode by elecrostatic forces and migrate there. Once there, the negative chloride ions encounter an anode seriously lacking in electrons with positive 'holes'. The chloride ions drop off their electrons into the positive 'holes' and become chlorine atoms:

2Cl- - 2e Cl2

(The chlorine atoms produced then pair up to become chlorine molecules)

The overall effect for the circuit is that for each Na⁺ and Cl^- reaction at the electrodes, one electron has been removed from the cathode and another electron has been deposited on the anode.

The battery detects electrons flowing around the circuit as an electric current and the bulb lights. Once again the cell equation is obtained by adding together the reactions occurring at the electrodes (having ensured that the number of electrons is the same):

2Na+ + 2e 2Na 2Cl- - 2e Cl2 2Na+ + 2Cl- 2Na + Cl2

Electrolysis of molten sodium chloride

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Industrial extraction of aluminium

Aluminium is a reactive metal that can only be effectively extracted from its ores using electrolysis. However, there are a couple of difficulties. Firstly the chloride of aluminium is covalent at elevated temperatures, meaning that it cannot be electrolysed. The oxide of aluminium is ionic, but it has an extremely high melting temperature making it unsuitable for direct use.

These two problems are overcome by using sodium aluminium fluoride, NaAlF₄ (cryolite), which melts at a reasonably accessible temperature for industry. Alumnium oxide can then be dissolved in the molten cryolite and the mix electrolysed. Aluminium oxide can be continuously added to the molten mixture as it is used up. The whole continuous process is called the Hall process, or Heroult - Hall process after its developers.

At the anode

Oxide ions migrate to the anode where they drop off electrons and become oxygen gas. At the elevated temperature of the electrolysis cell this oxygen gas reacts with the carbon electrodes, gradually burning them away. This is one of the pollution problems of the Hall process, it produces a lot of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse effect gas).

2O2- - 4e O2(g) C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g)

At the cathode

Aluminium ions migrate to the cathode and pick up electrons to form molten aluminium metal that sinks to the bottom of the cell and which can be tapped off via an appropriately located tap.

Al3+ + 3e Al(l)

The overall cell reaction:

2O2- - 4e O2(g) Al3+ + 3e Al(l) 2Al2O3 4Al(l) + 3O2(g)

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Worked examples

Q952-01 When molten magnesium chloride is electrolysed how many moles of gaseous chlorine will be produced for every mole of magnesium?

1. ½
2. 1
3. 2
4. 4

Answer

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The formula of magnesium chloride is MgCl2. The equation for its electrolysis is: MgCl2(l) Mg(l) + Cl2(g) From the equation we can see that the same numbe rof moles of magnesium are produced as chlorine gas. Therefore for every 1 mole of magnesium formed there is 1 mole of chlorine gas produced.

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Q952-02 Which of the folowing choices correctly completes the sentence? In the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride the sodium ion goes to the..

1. Positive electrode where it undergoes oxidation
2. Negative electrode where it undergoes reduction
3. Positive electrode where it undergoes reduction
4. Negative electrode where it undergoes oxidation

Answer

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Sodium ions have a positive charge and will migrate to the negative electrode (opposites attract). Once at the negative electrode the sodium ions pick up electrons, i.e. they undergo reduction ('OILRIG' = oxidation is loss, reduction is gain).

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Q952-03 During the electrolysis of a molten salt which statement is NOT correct?

1. The ions only move when a current flows
2. Positive ions are attracted to the negative electrode
3. Positive ions gain electrons at the negative electrode
4. Negative ions lose electrons at the positive electrode

Answer

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In a molten salt the ions are always in motion, as we are dealing with a liquid. Therefore statement A is incorrect.

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Q952-04 During the electrolysis of a molten salt the cation moves towards the … I … and undergoes … II…

	I	II
A.	negative electrode	reduction
B.	negative electrode	oxidation
C.	positive electrode	oxidation
D.	positive electrode	reduction

Answer

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Cations are attracted to the negative electrode as they have positive charges. When positive ions get to the negative electrode they pick up electrons and get reduced.

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Q952-05 Which species are produced at the positive and negative electrodes during the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride?

	Positive electrode	Negative electrode
A.	Na+(l)	Cl2(g)
B.	Cl-(l)	Na+(l)
C.	Na(l)	Cl2(g)
D.	Cl2(g)	Na(l)

Answer

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In the electrolysis of sodium chloride the sodium ions migrate to the cathode where they become sodium metal, which at the temperature of the melt is a liquid, and the chloride ions migrate to the anode where they become chlorine gas.

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Q952-06 What happens when molten potassium bromide is electrolysed in an electrolytic cell?

1. Bromine is produced at the positive electrode
2. Potassium ions lose electrons at the negative electrode
3. Electrons flow through the liquid from the negative electrode to the positive electrode
4. Oxidation occurs at the negative electrode and reduction takes place at the positive electrode
   

Answer

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Bromide ions have a negative charge, so bromine is produced at the positive electrode. None of the other statements are correct.

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Q952-07 The same quantity of electricity was passed through separate molten samples of aluminium oxide and sodium chloride. How many moles of sodium will be produced if 0.2 moles of oxygen gas were formed?

1. 0.1
2. 0.2
3. 0.4
4. 0.8

Answer

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The equation for the electrolysis of aluminium oxide making oxygen is: 2O2- - 4e O2 And the equation for making sodiun in the electrolysis of sodium chloride is: Na+ + 1e Na If 0.2 moles of oxygen is produced, this needs 0.2 x 4 moles = 0.8 moles of electrons (equation 1) From equation 2, 0.8 moles of electrons produced 0.8 moles of sodium

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Q952-08 Which statement is correct for the electrolysis of a molten salt?

1. Positive ions move towards the positive electrode
2. A gas is produced at the negative electrode
3. Only electrons move in the electrolyte
4. Both positive and negative ions move towards electrodes

Answer

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Opposite charges attract, so statement A is incorrect. The negative electrode attracts the positive ions, usually metal ions and so a gas is not produced. There is no motion of electrons within the electrolyte, only ions. Statement D is correct, both positive and negative ions move towards the electrodes.

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Q952-09 What product is formed at the cathode (negative electrode) when molten CaI₂ is electrolysed?

1. Ca²⁺
2. I^-
3. Ca
4. I₂

Answer

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The negative electrode attracts positive ions which pick up electrons to become atoms. The positive ions in calcium iodide are calcium ions Ca2+. The product formed is: Ca2+ + 2e Ca(l) Calcium metal

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Q952-10 Which processes occur during the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride?

1. I.   Sodium and chloride ions move through the electrolyte
2. II.  Electrons move through the external circuit
3. III. Oxidation takes place at the positive electrode

1. I and II only
2. I and III only
3. II and III only
4. I, II and III

Answer

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Statement I is correct. In molten liquids the ions are always in motion. Statement II is correct. Electrons move around the external circuit Statement III is correct. At the positive electrode the negative ions lose electrons. This is oxidation. response D - I, II and III

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