Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Hydrochloric acid and
Electrolysis
- What is electrolysis?
- Electrolysis is the
process by which
ionic substances
are broken down
into simpler
substances using
electricity. During
electrolysis,
metals and gases
may form at the
electrodes.
- For electrolysis to work, the ions must
be free to move. Ions are free to move
when an ionic substance is dissolved in
water or molten (melted). For example,
if electricity is passed through copper
chloride solution, the copper chloride is
broken down to form copper metal and
chlorine gas.
- What happens when hydrochloric acid is electrolysed?
- Produces
chlorine at
the positive
electrode
- Produces
hydrogen
at the
negative
electrode
- How to tell if its chlorine or hydrogen produced
- If the gas
produces a
squeaky pop
from a lighted
splint, it is
hydrogen
- If the gas turns
blue litmus
paper red then
white
(bleached) it is
chlorine.
- To understand electrolysis, you need to know what an ionic substance is.
- Ionic substances form when a metal reacts with a non-metal. They contain
charged particles called ions. For example, sodium chloride forms when sodium
reacts with chlorine. It contains positively charged sodium ions and negatively
charged chloride ions. Ionic substances can be broken down by electricity.