Molten Electrolysis

• What does Electrolysis mean?

  Using electricity to split ionic compounds
• Give four reasons for carrying out electrolysis

  Extraction of highly reactive metals

  Making Chlorine gas

  Making Hydrogen gas

  Making soaps
• What do we do to the ionic compound in the first stage and why do we do it?

  Dissolve or melt it

  So that the ionic compound can conduct electricity as the ions are free to move and carry charge through the structure
• A molten or dissolved ionic compound is called an

  Electrolyte
• In an electrolyte...


  The ions are free to move and carry charge
• What is stuck into the electrolyte?

  Positive and negative electrodes
• What are the electrodes made of?

  Graphite - an allotrope of carbon
• Why are the electrodes made of graphite?

  Conductivity - In graphite, each atom is bonded to 3 others so it hasone delocalised electron which can move freely and carry charge through the structure..
• What is the purpose of the lamp in Electrolysis?

  To show the circuit is working
• Where do the positive ions go?


  To the negative electrode - the cathode
• Where do the negative ions go?

  To the positive electrode - the anode
• Why do ions move this way?

  Opposites attract so negative charges are attracted to positive charges and vice versa
• At the electrodes the ions are...


  Discharged - ions turn to atoms and leave the solution
• The 2 types of discharge are...


  Oxidation and Reduction
• OILRIG =

  Oxidation Is Loss of electrons, Reduction is Gaining electrons
• Which electrode does oxidation happen at?

  Anode
• Which electrode does reduction happen at?

  Cathode
• Which ions need to be reduced to discharge them?


  Positive ions - Cations
• Which ions need to be oxidised to discharge them?


  Negative ions - anions