Electrolysis key terms

Electrolysis

The process of splitting up an ionic compound using electricity. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain define electrolysis as the splitting up of an ionic compound using electricity for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Ionic Compound

A compound composed of ions held together by ionic bonds. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain define electrolysis as the splitting up of an ionic compound using electricity for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

electrolyte

A liquid that contains free‑moving ions, allowing electric current to flow. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain describe an electrolyte as a liquid that contains free-moving ions for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

free‑moving ions

Ions that are not fixed in a solid lattice but can move within a liquid, enabling conduction during electrolysis.

Electrolysis

The splitting up of an ionic compound using electricity. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain explain why ionic compounds must be molten or dissolved in water for electrolysis to occur for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Electrolyte

A liquid that contains free-moving ions, allowing it to conduct electricity. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain explain why ionic compounds must be molten or dissolved in water for electrolysis to occur for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

anode

The positive electrode in electrolysis where oxidation occurs. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain identify the positive electrode as the anode for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

electrode

A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an electrolysis cell. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain identify the positive electrode as the anode for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

cathode

The negative electrode in electrolysis where reduction occurs and positive ions gain electrons.

electrode

A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an electrolyte during electrolysis.

cathode

The negative electrode where positive ions gain electrons during electrolysis. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain describe movement of positive ions to the cathode during electrolysis for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

positive ions

Ions that have lost electrons and are attracted to the cathode during electrolysis. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain describe movement of positive ions to the cathode during electrolysis for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

anode

The positive electrode where negative ions move to and are discharged during electrolysis. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain describe movement of negative ions to the anode during electrolysis for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

negative ions

Ions that carry a negative charge and move towards the anode during electrolysis. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain describe movement of negative ions to the anode during electrolysis for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Electrolysis

The process of splitting up an ionic compound using electricity. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain explain why ions are discharged at electrodes during electrolysis for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Electrode

A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an electrolyte. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain explain why ions are discharged at electrodes during electrolysis for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Electrolysis

The process of splitting up an ionic compound using electricity. In The process of electrolysis, this term helps explain link electrolysis to decomposition of ionic compounds for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Decomposition

The breakdown of a compound into simpler substances, often facilitated by electrolysis.

molten ionic compound

A substance that is in a liquid state due to high temperature, allowing ions to move freely and conduct electricity.

conduct electricity

The ability of a substance to allow the flow of electric current, typically due to the presence of free-moving charged particles.

cathode

The negative electrode where reduction occurs and metal is deposited during electrolysis. In Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds, this term helps explain predict that a metal forms at the cathode when a molten ionic compound is electrolysed for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

molten ionic compound

A substance that has been melted to allow free-moving ions to conduct electricity during electrolysis.

anode

The positive electrode where oxidation occurs during electrolysis. In Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds, this term helps explain predict that a non-metal forms at the anode when a molten ionic compound is electrolysed for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

non-metal

An element that typically forms negative ions and is produced at the anode during the electrolysis of molten ionic compounds.

Electrolysis

The process of splitting up an ionic compound using electricity. In Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds, this term helps explain describe electrolysis of molten lead bromide as producing lead at the cathode and bromine at the anode for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Cathode

The negative electrode where reduction occurs, and positive ions gain electrons. In Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds, this term helps explain describe electrolysis of molten lead bromide as producing lead at the cathode and bromine at the anode for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

electrolysis

The process of using electricity to split an ionic compound into its constituent ions, causing chemical change at the electrodes.

cathode

The negative electrode in an electrolytic cell where positive ions are attracted and gain electrons to form products.

molten ionic compound

An ionic compound that has been melted to allow ions to move freely for electrolysis.

balanced symbol equation

A chemical equation that shows the reactants and products of a reaction with equal numbers of atoms for each element on both sides.