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Topic 4 - Electrolysis (Half equations (Half equations show the reactions…
Topic 4 - Electrolysis
What is electrolysis?
When you pass an electric current through an ionic substance that's molten or in solution, the ions in the liquid or solution will move towards the electrodes where they can react
Electrolytes
Requires a liquid to conduct the electricity, called the electrolyte
Electrolytes contain free ions, they're usually a molten or dissolved ionic substance
How electrolysis works
Electrolysis is based on an electrical circuit that includes an electrolyte and two electrodes - an electrode is a solid that conducts electricity and is submerged in the electrolyte
In electrolysis, the electrodes are placed into the electrolyte and ions move from one electrode to the other - this allows the conduction of electricity through the circuit
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Half equations
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- Write the symbol for the positive ion in the electrolyte on the left-hand side of the equation
- Write the symbol for the neutral atoms or molecules produced on the right-hand side of the equation
- Balance the number of atoms in the equation
- Balance the charges by adding or subtracting electrons
You can do the same to get the half equation for the reaction at the positive electrode, starting with the negative ion on the left-hand side of the equation