Faraday’s Law of Electrolysis
Faraday gave two important laws that explain the relationship between the quantity of electricity passed through an electrolyte and the amount of substance deposited or liberated at the electrodes.
1. First Law of Electrolysis
- The mass of a substance deposited or liberated at an electrode during electrolysis is directly proportional to the amount of electric charge (electricity) passed through the electrolyte.
- In simple words: More current → more substance deposited.
2. Second Law of Electrolysis
- When the same quantity of electricity is passed through different electrolytes, the masses of substances deposited or liberated are proportional to their equivalent masses (atomic mass ÷ valency).
- In simple words: Substances with smaller equivalent masses get deposited in larger amounts.
Significance
- Faraday’s laws form the basis for calculating the amount of substance deposited during electroplating, refining of metals, and electrochemical reactions.
- They connect electrical energy with chemical change, helping industries control processes like metal extraction, electroplating, and battery operations.