electrolyte solution qu

Electrolyte Solutions
? Electrolytes are substances that form ions in solutions, conduct the electric current.
? Electrolytes may be subdivided further into
1-Strong electrolytes are substances that are completely ionized when they are dissolved in water. They conduct electrical currents very efficiently. The classes of strong electrolytes include: (a) soluble salts e.g. BaCl2, (b) strong acids e.g. HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, (c) strong bases e.g. NaOH, KOH
2-Weak electrolytes are substances that exhibit a small degree of ionization in water. That is, they produce relatively few ions when dissolved in water. Their solutions produce a small current. The most common weak electrolytes are weak acids (e.g. acetic acid) and weak bases (ammonium hydroxide – NH4OH) (ephedrine, phenobarbital).
Properties of Solutions of Electrolytes
Electrolysis: under a potential of several volts, a direct electric current (dc) flows through an electrolytic cell , a chemical reaction occurs. The process is known as electrolysis.

? Reduction is the addition of electrons to a chemical species
? oxidation is removal of electrons from a species.
? Electrons enter the cell from the battery or generator at the cathode (road down); they combine cations in the solution, and the cations are accordingly reduced.
? anions, carry electrons through the solution and discharge them at the anode (road up), and the anions are accordingly oxidized.
? The current in a solution consists of a flow of positive and negative ions toward the electrodes.
? Reduction occurs at the cathode, where electrons enter from the external circuit and are added to a chemical species in solution. Oxidation occurs at the anode.
? In the electrolysis of a solution of ferric sulfate in a cell containing platinum electrodes, a ferric ion migrates to the cathode, where it picks up an electron and is reduced: