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Observation Observation
When electricity is
When
flowing, a silvery
electricity is
deposit of lead metal
flowing, brown
forms on the
fumes of
cathode. In fact, as it
bromine gas are
is molten, it is more
seen at the
likely to drip off in a
anode.
molten blob.
This is composed of lead(II) ions, Pb2 + , and bromide
Half equation Half equation
ions, Br-. Its chemical formula is therefore PbBr2.
Pb2+ + 2e ---> Pb 2Br- ---> Br2 + e
A suitable apparatus which could be used to carry out
this electrolysis is shown in Figure above. Explanation Explanation
The bulb helps to show when electricity is flowing in
the circuit, and until the lead(II) bromide is completely The lead(II) The bromide
molten, the bulb does not light up . This confirms that ions, as they are ions, as they are
electrolytes have to be molten for the ions to start to move positive, move to negative, move
to the electrodes and thereby conduct electricity. the negative to the positive
At the Cathode At the Anode cathode, where anode, where
each ion gains each loses an
We have learnt that electrolyte can be molten ionic
two electrons to electron to form compound or aqueous solution of ionic compound, acid or
form a lead atom. a bromine atom. alkali.
Any reaction Then two of An aqueous solution is solution of water of a
at a cathode these newly substance. For example, if you heat sodium chloride until
involved is again formed atoms it melts, it is called molten sodium chloride, but if you
in electrons. This combine to form dissolve sodium chloride in water, it is called aqueous
is called bromine gas. sodium chloride.
reduction or more Any reaction Electrolysis of aqueous solution is different from
exactly, cathodic at an anode electrolysis of molten electrolyte.
reduction . involves a loss This is mainly because an aqueous solution contain
of electrons. more types of ions.
In summary, the lead(II) bromide is split into its Let us take the example of molten sodium chloride and
component elements : sodium chloride aqueous.
In molten sodium chloride, the ion present are sodium
PbBr2 ---> Pb + Br2
ion (Na+) and chloride ion (Cl-), due to the decomposition
of the solid sodium chloride.
NaCl ---> Na+ + Cl-
Equation: Equation:
H+ + e ---> H Cl- ---> Cl + e
In cathode, the
copper ions are
discharged to
form copper
atom and then
deposit on the
surface of the
key
Cu2+ ---> Cu + 2e