Describe electrolysis in terms of the ions present and the specific chemical reactions occurring at the electrodes.
Explain that melted or dissolved ionic compounds (electrolytes) conduct electricity because their ions are free to move.
Understand that passing an electric current through an electrolyte causes positively charged ions to move to the negative electrode (cathode) and negatively charged ions to move to the positive electrode (anode).
Recall that when a simple molten ionic compound is electrolysed using inert electrodes, metals are formed at the cathode and non-metals are formed at the anode.
Predict the elemental products of electrolysis for various binary ionic compounds in the molten state.
Write, complete, and balance half equations for the reactions occurring at the electrodes during electrolysis (Higher Tier only).
