Question

Electrolytic conduction is due to the movement of : (a) electrons (b) ions (c) atoms (d) electrons as well as ions

Short answer

(b) ions

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Electrolytic Conduction

Electrolytic conduction is the process that occurs in an electrolyte solution when an electric potential is applied, causing ions to move. This movement of ions is responsible for conducting electricity through the solution.

Identifying the Charge Carriers

In electrolytic conduction, the charge carriers are not electrons or whole atoms but ions. Ions are charged particles that result from the loss or gain of electrons from atoms. These ions carry the electrical current as they move towards respective electrodes when an electric field is applied.

Choosing the Correct Option

Since electrolytic conduction involves the movement of ions rather than electrons or atoms, and it is specifically the movement of ions (_not_ the combination of electrons and ions) that is responsible for the conduction process in an electrolytic cell, we can confidently choose the correct option.

Key concepts

Ionic Movement in Electrolytes

Imagine dissolving a pinch of salt in a glass of water. This simple act creates a solution teeming with charge carriers. These carriers are ions, which occur when salt, an electrolyte, dissociates into charged particles within the solution. In an electrolyte, ions move freely, and this motion is essential for electrical conduction.

When a power source is connected to electrodes placed in the solution, it pushes the ions toward the oppositely charged electrode. Positive ions, called cations, dash towards the negative electrode (cathode), while negative ions, or anions, surge towards the positive electrode (anode). This ionic movement under the influence of an electric field is at the heart of electrolytic conduction.

To enhance students' understanding, analogies can be quite helpful. You might compare the movement of ions to a game of tag, where ions 'chase' the electrode of opposite charge. By visualizing ions in motion, students can readily grasp the concept of electrolytic conduction without getting caught up in more complex details.

Charge Carriers in Electrolysis

During electrolysis, the chemical compound in the solution breaks down as a result of electrical energy. The protagonists of this process are the ions – agents that carry electric charge through a solution. It is their gain or loss of electrons that designates them as cations or anions.

Role of Ions

Ions facilitate the transformation of electrical energy into chemical energy and vice versa, by moving towards the electrodes and reacting there, which is crucial for industrial processes like electroplating or refining metals.

Understanding that ions act as the charge carriers rather than electrons can sometimes be challenging for students. A practical exercise could be demonstrating electrolysis with a low-voltage source and salt water, allowing students to see the formation of gas bubbles at the electrodes as a real-world example of ions at work.

Electricity Conduction in Solutions

The conduction of electricity in solutions contrasts starkly with that of metals, where free-flowing electrons are the conductors. In electrolyte solutions, it is ions that conduct electricity. These ions are produced when a soluble ionic compound, such as table salt, is dissolved, dissociating into positively and negatively charged components.

Conductivity

The ions not only initiate electrical conductivity but also sustain it within the solution. With the application of an electric field, they move and create a continuous flow of charge, analogous to the flow of water in a river steered by the terrain. In educational settings, interactive simulations of ionic movement can bolster comprehension, illustrating the dynamic process that unfolds as ions drift in an aqueous environment, generating electric current.