CHAPTER 6

ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(a) Electrolyte and non-electrolyte (b) Electrolysis of molten compound

What is electrochemistry?
Metal atoms and non metal atoms can combine to form ionic compounds. However, the reaction is not reversible, that is, compounds cannot change back to the original elements which formed them. Did you know that electric current flowing through an ionic compounds in molten form can break down the compound into the elements? In this chapter, you will learn electrochemistry, that is, using electric current to produce chemical changes in compound.

Electrolyte
Substances that can conduct electricity when they are in molten state or aqueous solutions and undergo chemical changes. This is due to the presence of free moving ions in the electrolyte.

Electrolytes
An electrolyte can break down into elements at electrodes when an electric current flows through it. Examples of electrolytes are: (a) molten of ionic compounds such as molten aluminium oxide, Al2O3, molten lead(ll) bromide, PbBr2, (b) aqueous solution of ionic compound such as Sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH. (c) aqueous solutions of acid or alkali such as hydrochloric acid,HCl, and ammonia solution, NH3.

Non-electrolytes
A non-electrolytes are substances that cannot conduct electricity either in molten state or aqueous solution. There will be no change on a nonelectrolytes when an electric current flows through it.

Non-electrolyte
Non-electrolytes are made from molecules only. There are no freely moving ions which can carry electrical charges in nonelectrolytes. Examples of non-electrolytes are molten covalent compounds such as sugar, sulphur, benzene, alcohol, naphthalene and tetrachloromethane.

Example:
To differentiate electrolytes from non-electrolytes in the molten and aqueous state.

Apparatus - Battery, ammeter, switch, carbon electrodes, electric bulb, crucible, Bunsen burner, tripod stand, wire gauze, beaker. Material Lead ll bromide, potassium iodide, lead powder, glucose, naphthalene, water.

(A) In the molten state

Procedure: 1.Set up the apparatus. 2.Lead(ll) bromide is heated until it melts. The switch is then turned on to allow electricity to pass through. 3.All observation are recorded. 4.Step 1-3 are repeated, using lead(ll)bromide, potassium iodide, lead powder, glucose and naphthalene.

To differentiate electrolysis in the molten and aqueous state

Answers
Substance Electric bulb Ammeter needle Changes at electrodesL Brown gas released, shining metal seen Purple gas released,shining metal seen. No chemical change No chemical change No chemical change

Lead(ll) bromide Potassium iodide Lead Metal Glucose

Lights up

Deflects

Lights up

Deflects

Lights up No change

Deflects No deflection

Naphtahlene No change

No deflection

(B) In the aqueous state

1.
Procedure Half a beaker of water is added to 3 spatulas of potassium iodide crystals in a beaker and stirred until dissolves. Set up the experiments and then on the switch. All observations are recorded. Step 1-3 are repeated with glucose.

2.

3. 4.

Answers
Substance Electric bulb Lights up Ammeter needle Deflects Changes at electrodes Solutions turns brown

Potassium iodide

Glucose solution

Does not light up

Does not deflect

No chemical change

Discussion
1. Aqueous potassium iodide conducts eletric current as it contains freely moving ions in solutions. 2. Glucose solutions is made up of molecules , not ions and so cannot conduct electic current.

Conclusion
Substances which can conduct electric current in the molten or aqueous states are electrolytes.

Discussion
Lead(ll)bromide and potassium are electrolytes because they conduct electric current in the molten state, at the same time under going a chemical change. Lead is good conductor but does not decompose when electric current is passed through. Therefore it is not an electrolytes. Glucose and naphthalene cannot conduct electric current in the molten state, thus they are non-electrolytes .

Electrolysis of molten compounds

ANODE CATHODE

ELECTRODE ELECTROLYTE

Term in electrolysis
1. Electrolysis - a process whereby
compounds in molten or aqueous state are broken down into their constituent elements by passing electricity through them. 2. Electrode (i) connected to the positive terminal of an electric current source (anode) (ii) connected to the negative terminal of an electric current source (cathode)

Electrolysis molten lead (II) bromide, PbBr2

The ions move freely Two ions are presence Pb2+ (cation) Br- (anion) Anion, Br- attracted to anode Cation, Pb2+ attracted to cathode At anode, Br- undergo discharge, release an electron to form Bromine atom Two bromine atoms combine to form a bromine gas, Br2

Bromine gas, Br2 is released Half equation: 2BrBr2 + 2e At cathode, Pb2+ undergo discharge The ions accept two electrons to form a lead atom, Pb Half equation : Pb2+ + 2e Pb Lead metal is form Overall equation: Pb2+ + 2BrPb + Br2

Electrolysis of other molten salts: molten sodium chloride, NaCl

Ions presence electrode Ion attracted

Na+ and ClAnode(+) ClCathode(-) Na+

Half equation product

observation Overall equation

2Cl-

Cl2 + 2e

Na+ + e Sodium metal

Na

Chlorine gas
Greenish yellow gas 2Cl- + 2Na+

Silvery solid metal Cl2 + 2Na

Molten magnesium oxide, MgO

Ions presence electrode Ion attracted Half equation product observation Overall equation 2O2Mg2+ and O2Anode(+) O2O2 + 4e Cathode(-) Mg2+ Mg2+ + 2e Mg

oxygen gas Colourless bubble gas 2O2- + 2Mg2+

magnesium metal Silvery solid metal O2 + 2Mg

Molten lead (II) oxide, PbO

Ions presence electrode Ion attracted Half equation product observation Overall equation 2O2Pb2+ and O2Anode(+) O2O2 + 4e Cathode(-) Pb2+ Pb2+ + 2e Lead metal Silvery solid metal O2 + 2Pb Pb

oxygen gas Colourless bubble gas 2O2- + 2Pb2+