Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions Flashcards

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In electrolysis, what does an aqueous solution mean?

It means an ionic compound has been dissolved in water, so water is part of the electrolyte.

Which extra ions from water are present in all aqueous solutions?

Hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).

During electrolysis of an aqueous solution, which electrode do positive ions (cations) move to?

They move to the cathode, which is the negative electrode.

In electrolysis of an aqueous solution, what usually forms at the cathode if the metal ion is more reactive than hydrogen?

Hydrogen gas is produced instead of the metal.

In electrolysis of an aqueous solution, what usually forms at the cathode if the metal ion is less reactive than hydrogen, like copper or silver?

The metal is plated out (deposited) on the cathode.

In electrolysis of an aqueous solution, what usually forms at the anode if the solution contains halide ions such as chloride, bromide or iodide?

The halogen gas is made, for example chlorine, bromine or iodine.

In electrolysis of an aqueous solution, what usually forms at the anode if the main negative ion is not a halide, for example sulfate or nitrate?

Oxygen gas is usually produced from hydroxide ions in the water.

In the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride solution with inert electrodes, what gas forms at the cathode and what gas forms at the anode?

Hydrogen gas forms at the cathode and chlorine gas forms at the anode.

In the electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulfate solution with inert electrodes, what forms at the cathode and what gas forms at the anode?

Copper metal is deposited at the cathode and oxygen gas is produced at the anode.

Why is it harder to predict the products of electrolysis of aqueous solutions than of molten ionic compounds?

Because aqueous solutions contain extra H⁺ and OH⁻ ions from water, so there are more ions that could be discharged at each electrode.

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