Electrolysis

M2O is the oxide of metal “M” which is above hydrogen in the activity series. M2O, when dissolved in water, forms the corresponding hydroxide which is a good conductor of electricity.
a. State the reaction taking place at the cathode.
b. Name the product at the anode.

Solution: Answer: i)M+ + 1e– → M ii) Oxygen gas is produced at the anode. Explanation: i) The activity series gives us a metal oxide M2O of metal ‘M'. M2O dissolves in water to generate hydroxide...

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Give reasons why:
a. Sodium chloride conducts electricity only infused or aqueous solution state.
b. In the electroplating of an article with silver, the electrolyte sodium Argento cyanide solution is preferred over the silver nitrate solution.

Solution: a) In the solid-state, the electrostatic forces of attraction between molecules are extremely strong, attracting molecules to one another. In the fused state, these forces grow weaker, and...

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Element X is a metal with valency 2. Element Y is a non-metal with valency 3.
1. Write equations to show how X and Y form ions.
2. If Y is a diatomic gas, write an equation for the direct combination of X and Y to form a compound.
If the compound formed between X and Y is melted and an electric current is passed through the molten compound, element X will be obtained at the ________ and Y at the ________ of the electrolytic cell.

Solution: X → X2+ + 2e– ; Y + 3e– → Y3-Y2 + 3X → X3 Y2Cathode, anode

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Give reasons for the following: g) Ammonia is unionized in the gaseous state but in the aqueous solution, it is a weak electrolyte.
h) A graphite anode is preferred to other inert electrodes during electrolysis of fused lead bromide.

Answer: g) Because ammonia is a covalent molecule, it is unionized in the gaseous state, but it produces $NH_4OH$ in an aqueous solution, which can dissociate into ions when exposed to water. h)...

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Give reasons for the following:
c) Lead bromide undergoes electrolytic dissociation in the molten state, but it is a non-electrolyte in the solid state.
d) Aluminium is extracted from its oxide by electrolytic reduction and not by conventional reducing agents.

Answer: c) During the melting process of lead bromide, the ions are free and loosely packed. It is because of the electrostatic force of attraction that the ions are closely packed in the...

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Give reasons for the following:
a) Electrolysis of molten lead bromide is a reaction in which oxidation and reduction go side by side, i.e., a redox reaction.
b) The blue color of aqueous copper sulfate fades when it is electrolyzed using platinum electrodes.

Solution: a) Bromine loses electrons at the anode of lead bromide electrolysis, while lead gets electrons at the cathode of lead bromide electrolysis. As a result, it is classified as a redox...

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