1 - 10 Electrolysis
● In order to conduct electricity, there must be charged particles (e.g.: electrons,
ions) which are free to move around
● ***Metals (metallic bonding) - conduct: delocalized electrons, free to move around,
carries charge (negative)
● ***Ionic compounds - conduct when molten/aqueous (in solution, containing water):
ions become free to move
● ***Covalent compounds - do not conduct: no delocalized charged particles
(exception: graphite, which has delocalized electrons)
Electrolysis (電解) (involving chemical reaction)
● ***Definition:
(TB) chemical change caused by passing an electric current through a compound,
which is molten or in solution
(SBA) splitting a compound into its elements/decomposition of compound using
electricity
● ***Electrolyte (電解質): liquid/solution undergoing electrolysis, contains ions
● ***Electrode (電極): where electricity is passed into and out of electrolyte through
○ Graphite is usually used for electrodes, as it conducts electricity and is
chemically inert (does not react with other things)
○ Anode (+ charge, attracts negative ions), cathode (- charge, attracts
positive ions)
1
, ●
●
● Half-equation: Pb2+ + 2e- → Pb
2
● In order to conduct electricity, there must be charged particles (e.g.: electrons,
ions) which are free to move around
● ***Metals (metallic bonding) - conduct: delocalized electrons, free to move around,
carries charge (negative)
● ***Ionic compounds - conduct when molten/aqueous (in solution, containing water):
ions become free to move
● ***Covalent compounds - do not conduct: no delocalized charged particles
(exception: graphite, which has delocalized electrons)
Electrolysis (電解) (involving chemical reaction)
● ***Definition:
(TB) chemical change caused by passing an electric current through a compound,
which is molten or in solution
(SBA) splitting a compound into its elements/decomposition of compound using
electricity
● ***Electrolyte (電解質): liquid/solution undergoing electrolysis, contains ions
● ***Electrode (電極): where electricity is passed into and out of electrolyte through
○ Graphite is usually used for electrodes, as it conducts electricity and is
chemically inert (does not react with other things)
○ Anode (+ charge, attracts negative ions), cathode (- charge, attracts
positive ions)
1
, ●
●
● Half-equation: Pb2+ + 2e- → Pb
2
