MECHANISM OF ELECTROLYSIS

MECHANISM OF ELECTROLYSIS

   These acqueous or molten ionic compounds they have free movement of ions thus why they conduct electricity.
- These movement of ions to their respective Electrode called MIGRATION.
- when electric passing through acqueous ionic compounds the solution electrolysed cations move to negative electrode (cathode) and anions move to postive electrode (anode). In solid state ions do not migrate because ions are not free. Ions in asilid electrolyte are held firmly by electrostatic force forming a "giant" crystalline structure.

            ELECTRODE REACTIONS.
  When voltage applied the cathode electrode become negatively and anode electrode become postively discharged. The opposite charge cause migrations of ions in opposite direction.

     Anions become negative due to extra electron they have and cation become postive due to deffisiance of electrons.

Anion on arrive on the surface of anode surrender the extra electrons to the cathode and become discharged.

                                              X- > X + e-

For divalent electrons.       X2- > X + 2e-

     The process of lossing electrons called oxidation,  there fore the reaction taking place in anode is oxidation reation.

When cation arrive on the surface of cathode, they receive electrons from cathode and became discharged

                 

                                              M+ + e- > M

For divalent electrons.      M2+ + 2e- > M

  

The process of gaining electrons is called reduction, there fore the reaction that take place take at cthode is reduction reaction.

      NB;
for oxidation half reactions, electrons appear on the right hand side of an equation.

for reduction half reactions, electrons appear on the left hand side of an equation.