Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Electrolysis Explanation

A very important process termed as electrolysis involves the passage of direct electric current from an A very important process termed as electrolysis involves the passage of direct electric current to carry out a chemical reaction that is non spontaneous
It is highly crucial process for industrial scale in cleaning impure metals, electroplating, production of useful substances and many more.
As far as its process is concerned..it involves DC that flows through electrolyte. And ionize it
The main parts of this process worth mentioning are:
ELECTROLYTE:the substance that underfo ionization and provide free charge carriers to the current to pass through
ELECTRODES: The electric conductors that provide physical interface between electrolyte and external circuit.
DIRECT CURRENT (DC) SUPPLY: energy required for ionization
To elaborate the process further let us take an example of electrolysis of brine.
Electrodes used are of graphite and the electrolyte is brine.
When DC is passed through the solution by completing the external circuit. Ionization takes place and reduction takes place at cathode. Thus hydrogen ions pick up electrons and hydrogen gas is bubbled out.
On the other hand oxidation takes place at anode and chlorine gas is evolved.
It a very useful process for obtaining chlorine gas,hydrogen gas, and sodium hydroxide.
Now let us discuss various uses and applications of electrolysis in chemistry
It is used for electroplating: the process of depositing a thin layer of precious metal to ordinary one in order to decorate or protect it. The metal to be deposited is made as cathode and that on which deposition is to be made is placed as anode.
Cathode gradually dissolves in solution and ions after picking electrons are deposited at anode.
Secondly it is used for the purification of impure metals: for instance if copper is to be purified. It is made cathode and a thin copper rod acts as anode. Cathode is dissolved in electrolyte that is copper sulphate solution. And pure copper is deposited at anode.. all impurities are settled below the solution.
Moreover, it is used for electrometallurgy: separation of metals from their ores
It is used for production of chlorine gas, aluminium, sodium, hydrogen gas, and many more useful substances.
It is used for cleaning a wide range of metals including old coins and ranging up to the huge rusted cast iron blocks that are used for manufacturing automobile parts and many other things

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