Chemistry chapter 7

• Electricity is a stream of electrons
• A conductor of electricity is a substance that allowd electricity to pass through it
• Plastic and ceramic do not let electricity pass through them, they are non conductors or insulators
• Metals are able to conduct electricity because the delocalised electrons can flow through the metal as a current
• Ionic compounds conduct when melted or dissolved in water because the ions are free to move
• Decomposition is breaking down a substance into two or more products
• The only solids that conduct are the metals and carbon (graphite)
• Electrolysis is the decomposition of an ionic compound, when molten or in an aqueoues solution by the passange of an electric current
• the carbon rods are called electrodes
• The liquid that undergoes electrolysis is called the electrolyte
• The positive electrode is called anode
• the negative electrode is called cathode
• ionic compounds can be electrolysed because the ions carry the current
• inert is another term of unreactive
• reduction always take place in the cathode because the negative cathode attracts the positive ions and supplies the electrons for reduction
• electroplating means using electricity to coat one metal with another