The Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions
The Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions
The Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions
Aqueous Solutions
The electrolysis of aqueous solutions
Aqueous solutions are solutions in water.
KI(aq)
Cathode Equation:
2H+(aq) + 2e- ® H2(g)
Anode Equation:
2I- (aq) ® I2(aq) + 2e-
The electrolysis of some other solutions
using carbon electrodes
MgBr2(aq)
Cathode Equation:
2H+(aq) + 2e- ® H2(g)
Anode Equation:
2Br- (aq) ® Br2(aq) + 2e-
The electrolysis of some other solutions
using carbon electrodes
H2SO4(aq)
Cathode Equation:
2H+(aq) + 2e- ® H2(g)
Anode Equation:
4OH- (aq) ® 2H2O(l) + O2(g) + 4e-
The electrolysis of some other solutions
using carbon electrodes
CuSO4(aq)
Cathode Equation:
Cu2+(aq) + 2e- ® Cu(s)
Anode Equation:
4OH- (aq) ® 2H2O(l) + O2(g) + 4e-
The electrolysis of some other solutions
using carbon electrodes
HCl(aq) (concentrated)
Cathode Equation:
2H+(aq) + 2e- ® H2(g)
Anode Equation:
2Cl- (aq) ® Cl2(aq) + 2e-
Active Electrodes
If you use metal electrodes rather than carbon,
different things can happen at the anode, unless the
metal is extremely unreactive – like platinum.
• Production of aluminum
• Purification of metals
• Metal plating
• Electrolysis of sodium chloride
• Production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide
The Hall-Heroult Process for Al Production
Electroplating/Silver Plating a Spoon
The Downs Cell for the Electrolysis of Molten
Sodium Chloride
The Mercury Cell for Production of Chlorine
and Sodium Hydroxide