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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Electrolysis, accumulator?

Also known as: electrolysis · accumulator

Definition 47.11 School Chemistry — Grades 1 to 12 · Chapter 47 — Electrochemical Cells and Electrolysis

An electrolysis is a redox reaction forced by an electrical generator, in the direction opposite to the one it would take by itself. An accumulator is a cell that can be recharged: during charging, the generator drives its reaction backwards, as an electrolysis.

Electrolysis of water: twice as much dihydrogen as dioxygen collects above the electrodes.
Electrolysis of water: twice as much dihydrogen as dioxygen collects above the electrodes.
Copper refining by electrolysis: copper passes from the impure anode to the pure cathode through the solution.
Copper refining by electrolysis: copper passes from the impure anode to the pure cathode through the solution.

Examples

Example 47.12 (Water, split)

At the cathode: 2 HX2O+2 eX−→HX2+2 OHX−\ce{2H2O + 2e- -> H2 + 2OH-}; at the anode: 6 HX2O→OX2+4 HX3OX++4 eX−\ce{6H2O -> O2 + 4H3O+ + 4e-}. For four electrons, two molecules of dihydrogen and one of dioxygen, while the ions HX3OX+\ce{H3O+} and OHX−\ce{OH-} formed at the two electrodes recombine into water: overall 2 HX2O→2 HX2+OX2\ce{2H2O -> 2H2 + O2}, the reverse of the combustion of hydrogen, which needs energy to happen.

Example 47.14 (Refining copper)

Impure copper from the smelter is made the anode of an electrolysis cell in copper sulfate solution, and a thin sheet of pure copper the cathode. At the anode copper dissolves, Cu→CuX2++2 eX−\ce{Cu -> Cu^{2+} + 2e-}; at the cathode pure copper is deposited, CuX2++2 eX−→Cu\ce{Cu^{2+} + 2e- -> Cu}; the impurities fall to the bottom or stay in solution. A current of 100 A100\,\mathrm{A} for 24 h24\,\mathrm{h} carries Q=100×86400=8.64×106 CQ = 100 \times 86400 = 8.64 \times 10^{6}\,\mathrm{C}, that is n(e−)=89.5 moln(e^-) = 89.5\,\mathrm{mol}, which deposits 89.5/2=44.8 mol89.5/2 = 44.8\,\mathrm{mol} of copper: 2.84 kg2.84\,\mathrm{kg}.

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