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This lesson covers electrolysis as required by the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification (1SC0). You need to understand what electrolysis is, the electrolysis of molten compounds and aqueous solutions, how to predict products at each electrode, and — for higher tier — how to write half equations.
Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to decompose (break down) an ionic compound that is either molten (melted) or dissolved in water (aqueous).
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Electrolyte | The ionic compound (molten or in solution) that is decomposed |
| Electrode | A solid conductor through which electricity enters or leaves the electrolyte |
| Cathode | The negative electrode (connected to the negative terminal of the power supply) |
| Anode | The positive electrode (connected to the positive terminal of the power supply) |
| Cation | A positive ion (e.g. Na⁺, Cu²⁺, H⁺) — attracted to the cathode |
| Anion | A negative ion (e.g. Cl⁻, O²⁻, OH⁻) — attracted to the anode |
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