what is electrolysis
Answers
In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a technique that uses direct electric current to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis is commercially important as a stage in the separation of elements from naturally occurring sources such as ores using an electrolytic cell.
what is electrolysis??
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Electrolysis is defined as a process of decomposing ionic compounds into their elements by passing a direct electric current through the compound in a fluid form. The cations are reduced at cathode and anions are oxidized at the anode.
For example, acidified or salt-containing water can be decomposed by passing electric current to their original elements hydrogen and oxygen. Molten sodium chloride can be decomposed to sodium and chlorine atoms.
Electrolysis is usually done in a vessel named ‘electrolytic cell’ containing two electrodes (cathode and anode) connected to a direct current source and an electrolyte which is an ionic compound undergoing decomposition, in either molten form or in a dissolves state in a suitable solvent.
Electrolytic Process:
In the process of electrolysis, there is an interchange of ions and atoms due to the addition or removal of electrons from the external circuit. Basically, on passing current, cations move to the cathode, take electrons from the cathode (given by the supply source-battery), and is discharged into the neutral atom. The neutral atom, if solid, is deposited on the cathode and if gas, move upwards. This is a reduction process and the cation is, reduced at the cathode.
At the same time anions, give up their extra electrons to the anode and is oxidized to neutral atoms at the anode. Electrons released by the anions travel across the electrical circuit and reach the cathode completing the circuit. Electrolysis involves a simultaneous oxidation reaction at anode and a reduction reaction at the cathode.
For example, when electric current, is, passed through molten sodium chloride, the sodium ion is attracted by the cathode, from which, it takes an electrode and becomes a sodium atom.
Chloride ion reaches the anode, gives its electron, and become chlorine atom to form chlorine molecule.
Na+(in electrolyte) + e–(from cathode) → Na …. At Cathode
Cl–(from electrolyte) → e– + Cl → Cl2 …. At Anode
Electrolysis process, while useful to get elemental forms from compounds directly, it can also be used indirectly in the metallurgy of alkali and alkaline earth metals, purification of metals, deposition of metals, preparation of compounds etc.
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