Question

Explain, giving one simple example of the following chemical change:

Electrolytic dissociation

Answer 1

Decomposition reaction:

• It is a chemical reaction in which a chemical compound decomposes to give two or more new substances.
• Usually, decomposition reactions require external agents like heat, light, electricity, etc.

Electrolytic dissociation:

• It is a decomposition reaction that is carried out by electricity.
• For example, while passing an electric current through molten sodium chloride (NaCl), it forms sodium (Na) and chlorine gas (Cl₂).
• $\underset{\mathrm{sodium}\mathrm{chloride}}{2\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}\stackrel{\mathrm{electric}\mathrm{current}}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{sodium}}{2\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{chlorine}}{{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$