What happens when an electric current is passed through a solution of an ionic compound?
When an electric current is passed through a solution of an ionic compound, the ions in the solution will be attracted to the electrodes and will be discharged. This process is known as electrolysis. The ions will be discharged in the form of either gas or solid particles, depending on the type of ionic compound.
When an electric current is passed through a solution of an ionic compound, a process called electrolysis occurs. Here are the steps involved:
1. Ionization: When the ionic compound is dissolved in a solvent (usually water), it dissociates into its constituent ions. For example, if the compound is sodium chloride (NaCl), it dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-).
2. Migration of ions: The positive ions (cations) are attracted towards the negative electrode (cathode), while the negative ions (anions) are attracted towards the positive electrode (anode). This movement of ions towards the electrodes is called migration.
3. Electrolysis: At the electrodes, the ions gain or lose electrons, which leads to the formation of new substances. The positive ions (cations) are reduced (gain electrons) at the cathode and negative ions (anions) are oxidized (lose electrons) at the anode.
4. Reduction at the cathode: At the cathode, positively charged ions gain electrons and are reduced. For example, if the solution contains copper ions (Cu2+), they can gain two electrons (2e-) and get reduced to solid copper (Cu).
5. Oxidation at the anode: At the anode, negatively charged ions lose electrons and are oxidized. For example, if the solution contains chloride ions (Cl-), they can lose an electron (e-) and get oxidized to chlorine gas (Cl2).
Overall, electrolysis of an ionic compound involves the migration of ions towards electrodes, their reduction or oxidation at the electrodes, and the formation of new substances. This process is important in various applications, such as electroplating, water splitting, and production of metals.
When an electric current is passed through a solution of an ionic compound, a process called electrolysis occurs. Electrolysis is the decomposition of the compound into its constituent ions using electricity.
To understand what happens in this process, it's important to recognize that ionic compounds are made up of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). When the compound is dissolved in a solution, the ions separate and become free to move.
To determine what occurs during electrolysis, you need to consider the two electrodes that are placed in the solution. The positive electrode is called the anode, and the negative electrode is called the cathode.
At the anode, positively charged ions (cations) are attracted to the negative charge. For example, if the ionic compound is sodium chloride (NaCl), it will dissociate into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-). The chloride ions (Cl-) will be attracted to the anode, and they will release electrons (e-) to the electrode. This process is called oxidation.
At the cathode, negatively charged ions (anions) are attracted to the positive charge. In the case of sodium chloride (NaCl), the sodium ions (Na+) will be attracted to the cathode. The sodium ions will gain electrons from the cathode, which is called reduction.
Overall, the process of electrolysis involves the movement of ions towards their respective electrodes, the release of electrons at the anode (oxidation), and the gain of electrons at the cathode (reduction). This process allows the ionic compound to be decomposed into its constituent elements or ions.