Electrolytic Cell: It can be defined as an electrochemical device that uses electrical energy to

facilitate a non-spontaneous redox reaction. Electrolytic cells are electrochemical cells that can
be used for the electrolysis of certain compounds.
Electrochemical cell: is a device that can generate electrical energy from the chemical reactions
occurring in it, or use the electrical energy supplied to it to facilitate chemical reactions in it.
Electrolysis is defined as a process of decomposing ionic compounds into their elements by
passing a direct electric current through the compound in a molten or aqueous form.
Electrolysis is performed in a vessel named ‘electrolytic cell’ containing two electrodes (metals/
semiconductor) connected to a direct current (DC) source and an ionic electrolyte that undergoes
decomposition.
Example of electrolysis:

Two copper strips are dipped in an aqueous solution of CuSO4. A DC voltage is applied to both
the electrodes. Cu 2+ ions discharge at the cathode Cu2+(aq) + 2e– --> Cu (s). Copper metal is
deposited on the cathode and copper is converted into Cu2+ ions at the anode by the following
reaction: Cu --> Cu2+(aq) + 2e–

Purification of Metal by electrolysis: The impure copper is the anode that dissolves on passing
current whereas the pure copper is deposited at the cathode. Metals like Na, Mg, Al, etc. are
produced using electrochemical reduction of their respective cations.

Electroplating of Metal by electrolysis: Suppose we have to electroplate copper on a metal,

then the object which have electroplate is put on cathode while the electrode of copper is put on
the anode, then copper at the anode that dissolves on passing current and deposited at the
cathode.

Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis: Faraday was the first who described the quantitative aspects
of electrolysis and gave two laws of electrolysis:

1st Law: The amount of chemical reaction which occurs at any electrode during electrolysis by a
current is proportional to the quantity of electricity passed through the electrolyte.

2nd Law: The amounts of different substances liberated by the same quantity of electricity
passing through the electrolytic solution are proportional to their chemical equivalent weights. i.e
w1/w2=E1/E2 (where w1 and w2 are the amount of metals deposited while E1 and E2 are the
equivalent weight. And

E= atomic weight /valence factor

Q =It, where Q is in coloumb, I is in ampere and t is in second.

If one mole of the electron is required then the charge on one mole of electron will be= 1.6 *10-
19
C *6.022*1023=96487 C/mol. This quantity of electricity is known as Faraday and is
represented by the symbol F.

Products of Electrolysis The product of electrolysis produced depends on the following:

1. Nature of material being that is being electrolyzed as well as the type of electrodes that is
being used.
2. An inert electrode e.g., platinum or gold does not participate in chemicalreaction and acts
as a source or sink for electrons.
3. A reactive electrode participates in the electrode reaction.
4. On the different oxidizing as well as reducing species that are present in the electrolytic
cell and their standard electrode potentials.
5. Electrolysis of molten NaCl results in the production of sodium metal and Cl2.

For molten NaCl: cathode: Cl-→1/2 Cl2+ e-

Anode: Na+ + e-→Na

For aq NaCl: Net reactions may be summarized as:

NaCl (aq) --> Na+ (aq) + Cl– (aq)
Cathode: H2O(l) + e–  --> ½  H2(g) + OH– (aq)
Anode: Cl– (aq) --> ½ Cl2(g) + e–
Net reaction:
NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) --> Na+(aq) + OH–(aq) + ½H2(g) + ½Cl2(g)

Battery: Battery is a collection of two or more cells/batteries connected in series. It a

electrochemical cell. It is of two types: Primary battery and Secondary battery.

Primary battery: The reaction in a primary battery occurs only once. The battery becomes dead
after used once and cannot be reused Example of primary cell is dry cell and mercury cell.

Dry cell consists of a zinc anode and the carbon (graphite) cathode surrounded by powdered
manganese dioxide and carbon. The space between the two electrodes is filled by a soaking paste
of NH4Cl and ZnCl2. At the cathode manganese is reduced from + 4 oxidation state to +3
oxidation state. As per the equation, Ammonia produced forms a complex with Zn2+ giving rise
to [Zn (NH3)4]2+. The cell has a potential of nearly 1.5 V.

Anode: Zn(s) ⎯ -->Zn2+ + 2e–

Cathode: MnO2+ NH4++ e–⎯ -->MnO (OH) + NH3

Mercury Cell: It consists of zinc – mercury amalgam as the anode and a paste of HgO and
carbon as cathode and paste of KOH and ZnO electrolyte used as an electrolyte. The cell
potential is approximately 1.35 V that remains constant throughout its lifetime.
The electrode reactions for the cell are given below:
Anode: Zn(Hg) + 2OH– -->ZnO(s) + H2O + 2e–
Cathode: HgO + H2O + 2e– --> Hg(l) + 2OH–

The overall reaction is represented by

Zn (Hg) + HgO(s) --> ZnO(s) + Hg(l)

Secondary battery: The reaction in a secondary battery occurs many times. Once it exhausts it
can be recharged and used again. They are recharged by passing electric current through it in
opposite direction. Ex: lead and nickel cadmium cell. It is used extensively in automobiles and
invertors.

The lead cell contains a lead anode and a lead dioxide (PbO2) cathode and sulphuric acid is used
as an electrolyte.
Anode: Pb(s) + SO42–(aq) --> PbSO4(s) + 2e–
Cathode: PbO2(s) + SO42–(aq) + 4H+(aq) + 2e– --> PbSO4 (s) + 2H2O (l)

The overall reaction in cell:

Pb(s)+PbO2(s)+2H2SO4(aq) --> 2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

While charging, the reaction within the battery is reversed when connected to external electric
supply and PbSO4(s) on anode and cathode is converted into Pb and PbO2, respectively.

It has a longer life than lead storage cell and it requires more expenses to

The overall reaction in cell

Cd (s)+2Ni(OH)3 (s) --> CdO (s) +2Ni(OH)2 (s) +H2O(l)

Fuel Cell: in this cell the chemical energy of fossil fuels like coal, gas or oil is initially used to
convert water into high-pressure steam and is used to run a turbine to generate. Hydrogen and
oxygen are bubbled using porous carbon electrodes into concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide
solution. Finely splitted platinum or palladium metal are added to the electrodes for increasing
the rate of electrode reactions.

Cathode: O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) + 4e– --> 4OH–(aq)

Anode: 2H2 (g) + 4OH–(aq) ⎯ --> 4H2O(l) + 4e–

The overall reaction in cell:

2H2(g) + O2(g) →2 H2O(l)

Corrosion : The newly bought iron, silver or coper articles appears very shiny but with respect
to time they get dull. This is due to the layer of metal oxide that develops on their surface.
Rusting of iron, silver jewellery being tarnished. Metals react with atmospheric oxygen
and produces metal oxides that are basic in nature because they react with water to form
bases.
In case of rusting of iron, the iron reacts with the oxygen present in air and moisture and
develops rust (hydrated iron (III) oxide).

4Fe+ 3O2+2H2O→2Fe2O3.H2O