How is electricity conducted in a molten electrolyte?
Ionic compounds conduct electricity when their ions are free to move. Ions can move in the liquid state (after melting) or in aqueous solution (after dissolving in water). The molten or dissolved substance is called the electrolyte .
Why is molten zinc an electrolyte?
The negative ion (the non-metal) will travel to the anode, where it will lose electrons to become an element. The example below involves electrolysis of molten zinc chloride, ZnCl2(l). When zinc chloride is melted, the ions which make it up become free to move.
Why do electrolyte solutions conduct electricity?
An electrolyte is any salt or ionizable molecule that, when dissolved in solution, will give that solution the ability to conduct electricity. This is because when a salt dissolves, its dissociated ions can move freely in solution, allowing a charge to flow.
What is molten electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a process that will cause any molten ion to decompose into its element. In the electrolysis of molten lead (II) bromide, lead ions are reduced to lead atoms while bromide ions are oxidized to bromine gas. The process is useful in many industrial processes.
What is difference between conductor and electrolyte?
two differences between a conductor and an electrolyte, one use of electrolysis….
| Conductors | Electrolytes |
|---|---|
| – are not decomposed by electric current | – decomposed by the passage of electric current |
| – usually solid | – are aqueous solution/ molten salts |
| – free electrons conduct current. | – ions conduct electric current |
Why does zinc form at the cathode?
The electrolysis is similar to that of copper (II) sulfate solution with inert electrodes. The answer key says that zinc would be formed at the cathode. However, zinc is more reactive than hydrogen, so logically hydrogen should be given off at the cathode, not zinc.