Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis: Principles and Applications

by Yuvi K - December 17, 2023

Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis: Principles and Applications

Electrolysis of a substance refers to the process of passing an electric current through it to decompose it into more simpler elements or compounds. It is an important chemical process in the field of chemistry as well as a valuable tool for industrial and commercial purposes. The process of electrolysis is governed by Faraday’s Laws of electrolysis, which were first discovered by Michael Faraday and published in 1834.

What are Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis?

Faraday’s laws of electrolysis state that the amount of electrolysis occurring in a reaction is proportional to the amount of electric charge (विद्युत चार्ज) (units – coulombs) that is passed in the process.

Faraday’s First Law of Electrolysis

Faraday’s first law of electrolysis states that the amount of a substance produced by electrolysis (called as Electrolytic amount ) is proportional to the amount of charge passed during the process. Expressed mathematically, the law states that:

Electrolytic amount (A) = Charge passed (Q) / Change chem equivalent (z)

where z is the chemical equivalent of a substance, i.e. the mass of the substance liberated by one coulomb of charge.

Faraday’s Second Law of Electrolysis

Faraday’s second law of electrolysis states that the amount of the electrolysis of a substance is directly proportional to the equivalent weight (or atomic weight) of the substance. Expressed mathematically, the law states that:

Amount of substance produced (m)= Charge passed (Q) * Equivalent weight of substance/ Faraday constant (F)

Where m stands for the mass of the substance, F stands for Faraday’s constant which has a value of 96500 coulombs.

Table Showing Faraday’s Laws Of Electrolysis

Applications of Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis

The most common applications of Faraday’s Laws of electrolysis are in the production of metals, extraction of metals from their ores, purification of metals, electroplating and production of hydrogen and chlorine from water. Some of the other applications of Faraday’s laws of electrolysis in industries include:

• Production of metals- Metals like aluminum, sodium, lithium, calcium, and magnesium are produced by electrolysis of ores.
• Extraction of metals- Some metals like copper, tin, silver, and lead can be extracted from their ores using electrolysis.
• Purification of metals- Electrolysis can also be used to purify metals such as copper, gold, and silver.
• Electroplating- Electroplating is a process in which a metal object is plated with a thin layer of metal. This is usually done to increase the corrosion resistance of the object or to improve its strength or appearance.
• Production of hydrogen and chlorine- Electrolysis of water can be used to produce hydrogen and chlorine.

Conclusion

Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis are among the most important and widely used laws in the field of chemistry. These laws offer an insight into the rate of electrolysis and are used to calculate the amount of material produced by electrolysis. Faraday’s Laws also form the basis of many industrial applications and processes.

References

• International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), “Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis”, https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v4i5/NOV165504.pdf, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2020
• WiKipediA, “Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday%27s_laws_of_electrolysis, Jan 6, 2020. Accessed May 18, 2020
• Science ABC, “Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis: Explanation & Examples”, https://www.scienceabc.com/physics/faradays-law-electrolysis.html, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2020
• IndiaBIX, “Faraday’s laws of electrolysis”, https://www.indiabix.com/physics/electrostatics/faradays-laws-of-electrolysis/, Accessed May 18, 2020