Electrolysis is the use of electrical current to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. This technique is used in industry to produce chlorine bleach and many metals.
The process of forming a metal on an electrode surface is known as electroplating; electrolysis provides a cheap and effective method to plate aluminum. The element aluminum was such a precious metal at the time electrolysis was introduced that it cost approximately $1200 per kilogram, and was displayed next to the crown jewels at the Paris Exposition of 1855. Within six years after the Paris Exposition, the price of aluminum dropped to only $25 per kilogram.
This program simulates the electrolysis of four metals: aluminum, silver, gold and copper. By closing the circuit switch, the battery causes a current to flow through the cell, making the right-hand electrode the cathode, and thus allowing an oxidation-reduction reaction to occur.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Select an element to plate by clicking on one of the Metal option buttons.
2. Set the amount of current to flow through the circuit by adjusting the Current
level scroll bar. The scroll bar adjusts the current between 1. and 50. Amps.
3. To begin electrolysis, click on the switch in the circuit.
4. To stop the experiment, reclick the switch to open the circuit. Once current
has stopped, the duration of electrolysis, and number of moles and grams
