SACE Stage 1 Chemistry

1. ELECTROCHEMISTRY
YEAR 11 – STAGE 1 SACE

2. • In 1793, Alessandro Volta discovered that electricity could be produced by
placing two dissimilar metals on opposite sides of a moistened paper.
• In 1800, Nicholson and Carlisle, using Volta‘s primitive battery as a source,
showed that an electric current could decompose water into oxygen and
hydrogen.
• By 1812, the Swedish chemist Berzelius could posit that all atoms are electrified,
hydrogen and the metals being positive, the non- metals negative calling them
ions

3. When a piece of zinc metal is immersed in pure water, the following occur:
• Zn ions go in the solution leaving electrons in the metal
• This continues till the level of electrons increase too much and the ions are
unable to leave the metal anymore, hence, the process comes to a halt.
Zn(s) Zn2+ + 2e–

4. When Zinc metal is immersed in Copper sulphate solution, the following things
occur:
• Zinc metal goes in the solution
• Copper metal deposits on the Zinc metal
• The blue colour of the solution starts disappearing.
Zn(s) + CuSO4 ZnSO4 + Cu(s)

5. Activity Series of metals lists metals in descending order of its activity. A reactive
metal displaces any metal in its ion form.
React vigorously with
acidic solutions to
give H2 (dangerous)
K React vigorously with liquid water
to give H2
Ca
Na
React with acids to
give H2
Mg Reacts slowly with liquid water
but readily with steam to give H2
Al
Zn
Fe
Ni
Sn
Pb
H2
Do not react with
acids to give H2
Cu Do not react with liquid water or
steam
Hg
Ag
Au

7. TERMINOLOGY
• Electrochemical Cell (EC): A cell which converts chemical energy into electrical
energy or vice –a –versa
• Electrolytic cell: An EC which converts electrical energy in a chemical energy.
• Galvanic (Voltaic) Cell: An EC cell used to convert chemical energy into
electrical energy
• Electrolyte: A compound when molten or dissolved has the capacity to conduct
electricity and inturn gets decomposed. Depending upon the level of
ionization, electrolytes can be called strong, weak or a non-electrolyte which
does not ionize when dissolved in water.

8. • Electrode: A metal or Carbon rod which connects the electrolyte with a circuit.
• Anode: The electrode where oxidation takes place
• Cathode: The electrode where reduction takes place.
• Electrolysis: A process in which electrical energy is used to produce a chemical
reaction.

9. Galvanic Cell:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNG5P
MlHSoA

10. Voltaic (Galvanic) Cell
Construction:
• 2 half EC cells – in each cell a half reaction takes place.
• Each half cell is made up of dipping a metal strip in its salt solution.
E.g: Zinc metal strip dipping in a solution of Zinc salt.
Copper metal strip dipping in a solution of Copper salt
• The two half cells are connected with a salt bridge
• The redox reaction is spontaneous but the electrons travel through an external circuit.

11. POINTS TO REMEMBER
• Oxidation occurs at the Anode (-)
Zn(s) Zn2+ + 2e–
• Reduction occurs at the Cathode (+)
Cu2+ + 2e– Cu(s)
• Electrons generated by the reaction move through the external circuit. These electrons are used by the
cathode for the reduction reaction
• To maintain electron neutrality, cations move towards cathode and anions move towards anode.
• The electrons always flow from the negative to the positive (i.e. anode to cathode)

12. NOTATIONS OF A VOLTAIC CELL
• The anode is always written on the left, the cathode on the right.
• The salt bridge is denoted by 2 vertical lines.
• A single vertical line represents a phase change
• E.g. Zn(s) Zn2+
(aq) Cu2+
(aq) Cu(s)

13. • When a gas is involved, then, an inert metal like platinum is used as an
electrode, which just catalyses the reaction, does not actively participate in the
reaction.
• E.g. for cathode: H+
(aq) H2(g), Pt
• For Anode: Pt, H2(g) H+
(aq)

15. CONSTRUCTION OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL
• Electrolytic cell: An EC which uses electric current to cause a non – spontaneous
chemical reaction
• Consists of:
• A battery (source of electron)
• Electrolyte
• electrodes

16. http://group.chem.iastate.edu/Greenbowe/sections
/projectfolder/flashfiles/electroChem/electrolysis10
.html

17. POINTS TO REMEMBER
• When the charge is supplied electrons are drawn away from the
Anode hence, anode becomes positively charged, attracting
negatively charged ions
• Electrons are supplied to the cathode hence becoming negatively
charged, attracting positively charged ions.
• Anode receives electrons, oxidises anions or water.
• Cathode provides electrons, reduces cations or water

18. APPLICATIONS:
• Extraction of metals from their compounds, e.g. zinc
• Recharging a lead – acid battery.
• Electroplating, e.g. nickel, chromium
• Refining of metals, e.g. copper
• Production of non – metallic elements, e.g. chlorine, hydrogen

19. MOLTEN ELECTROLYTES
• Molten Electrolyte is defined as when the electrolyte is kept at a temperature
higher than its boiling point.
• For e.g. : Lead (II) Bromide.
• Reaction at anode: 2Br-
(l) Br2 (g) + 2e-
• Reaction at Cathode: Pb2+
(l) + 2e- Pb(s)
• Another example :NaCl

20. AQUEOUS ELECTROLYSIS
• Reactions carried out in aqueous solution provide an added
complication. Water ionises to produce hydrogen (H+) ions and
hydroxide (OH¯) ions. These are often displaced from solution to
give hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Which ions are released
depends upon the following factors:
 the position of the ions in the reactivity series.
Concentration of ions in the electrolytes.
Nature of the electrodes.