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Chemistry Electrolysis

Why do only ionic substances and molten ionic substances be electrolysed
Original post by adelegeorge11
Why do only ionic substances and molten ionic substances be electrolysed


Ionic compounds can only be electrolysed when they are molten or in solution. You can't electrolyse a solid ionic compound. This is because they consist of charged particles (ions) which are held together by an electrostatic force of attraction, where oppositely charged ions attract each other. This charge is what allows ions to conduct electricity when molten/in solution, and therefore what allows them to be electrolysed.

When molten/in solution, the ions are able to move around, and so they can move to the positive/negative electrodes during electrolysis, and carry a charge to each one.

You can't electrolyse a solid ionic compound because the ions can't move.

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