Electrolysis: The Basics

[@ScrapScience]

You should definitely check out MAKiT's channel here: www.youtube.com/@MAKiTHappen In fact, you might see a chemistry-oriented video over there right now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sInJioOtaKxnm6s You should also join the Scrap Science Discord server here: discord.gg/m76mHpvdGW

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Dang, I had a video very similar to this one on my to do list. Too many electrolysis videos out there (including my own) that don't explain how the end products end up at each electrode because the whole cell is talked about like it's only performing a single reaction. Understanding half reactions makes things much more interesting. Nice job on this.

[@ScrapScience]

Glad you liked it! And I definitely agree with your take - I love to see any and all electrolysis videos, but the fact that the redox process is happening in two independent half-reactions is one of the most interesting parts!

[@Rhannmah]

Not just more interesting, but understanding what's really going on gives you so much more power over the process. It's when you have this knowledge that you can truly begin to explore and experiment.

[@yehiaali3899]

"The worst copper plating you'll ever see" clearly you haven't met me, sir. 😂😂

[@6alecapristrudel]

I really like that you're focusing on electrochem viedos and in general being someone that represents a less-popular branch of chemistry. It can get quite complicated and a good starting point is always important. You did a great job explaining a lot of fundamentals here. I see that you mostly do electrosynthesis, but I'd really love to see you do some metal plating videos. Seeing metal spawn out of seemingly nowhere never gets boring to me. They can help you to demonstrate some more concepts too, like diffusion and what happens when you turn up the current too high and "burn" your deposit. Additives and brighteners are a huge rabbit hole too.

[@tsraikage]

absolutely the best. sometimes youtubers ignore the fact that big part of viewers have no or too little understanding of the basics of what the videos are about. this was perfectly portioned and assembled video for well digestion. great job

[@vance7354]

I would love to see more theory vids like this!

[@yehiaali3899]

I agree. I'm not really good with electrolysis so more of these videos would be so amazing❤.

[@s9k328]

Electrolysis is definitely a topic with a steep learning curve. Sure, it's easy to learn that anions are oxidised at the anode and cations are reduced at the cathode, but after that, redox/cell potentials are very difficult to understand. The high quality animation in this video definitely flattens this learning curve! 💯💯💯💯💯 Perfect collaboration

[@suwedo8677]

Sincerely thank you for your work, you explained most of the things I couldn't wrap my head around when it comes to the direction of electrons and such. Please continue making in-depth videos about electrolysis, information is so scarce when it comes to this subject, it would really help a lot of people I think

[@pelegsap]

This is a superb video. I learned this stuff back in undergrad 15+ years ago, and it was really good to get a refresher. Was interesting and well presented through and through. Thank you!

[@ScrapScience]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed. You have one of my favourite profile pictures, by the way.

[@SosirisTseng]

Thank you Scrap Science (and KZbin algorithm) for this informative video.

[@izzybarwick1521]

If Scrap Science has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Scrap Science has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Scrap Science has only one fan then that is me. If Scrap Science has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Scrap Science, then I am against the world.

[@Drjtherrien]

This is a really nice explanation. I appreciate your use of analogies. My PhD thesis work was on electrochemical etching of silicon to make nanoparticles, so I appreciate just how deep one can go down this rabbit hole.

[@Guishan_Lingyou]

This is a fantastic presentation. I had not seen this channel before, but I look forward to seeing more in the future.

[@davidfetter]

This absolutely whips! Those animations and your explanations played extremely well together. 10/10 would watch again.

[@rodrigomack13]

More of these would be really appreciated. My personal feeling is that practical applications of electrochemistry to other branches will be the future, but i don't know that much electrochemistry and no one seems to teach it here!

[@jaredhaas1428]

Thanks for making this! Your explanations were easy to digest. I'd love to see more content like this too.

[@jonathanaguilar-ju2du]

I love how you don't try to show off knowledge, you genuinely want to share it so other people can have it too. Can I share something to anyone new? remember "OIL RIG"- 'Oxidation-Is-Loss [of e-]" and "RIG" "Reduction-Is-Gain [of e-]" not super important but it might help someone here looking to be introduced into chemistry which would be awesome

[@Gersberms]

I didn't realize how much I had forgot about this process. I scored like 97% on the final exam of my chemistry class and never had to use that knowledge again so I really appreciate your video.

[@cipaisone]

3:40, what happens judging from the color is more like copper oxidation, rather than water oxidation

[@ScrapScience]

I mean yeah, both are happening in that case.

[@cipaisone]

@ 🤓

[@OIOIOIIOOIOOOOOIOIOOOIII]

As far as the argument at 18:00 you might want to check out the latest AI that can in fact to a high degree of accuracy judge how much force is being exerted by tugging teams based on sight

[@leonciopina3618]

Buena explicación, bastante ilustrativa. Se agradece la transferencia de conocimiento, el tiempo invertido y la intencionalidad.

[@mcwolfbeast]

Thank you for providing a solid basis for people to understand electrolysis! I'm sure it will help many people become more educated in electrochemistry that would otherwise never gain that knowledge!

[@Rhino-Flea]

simply masterful explanation !

[@FAT64]

Great video! Been curious what electrolysis is, feel like this is giving me a good foundation. Thank you!

[@vance7354]

I would love to see a Whole Series of Videos on what Solutions to use to make different things, for example, What electrodes and Solutions to use to make colloidal silver at the highest concentration possible. I know I need one piece of silver, but I dont know what to use as the Solution, and I dont know if the silver needs to be the Anode or Cathode.

[@ScrapScience]

I'll personally be staying very clear of colloidal silver (I don't want to attract any medical conspiracy nutcases to my channel), but yeah, the future of the Scrap Science is to just continue making demonstrations of random electrochemical reactions. Stay tuned!

[@vance7354]

@@ScrapScience oh see i dont want it for Medical use, I want it to spray on plants to reverse their sex from female to male, so that i can collect pollen for breeding projects. Silver blocks Ethelyne production in the plant and causes the sex to change. I totally get not wanting to attract that psudo science crowd, 100%

[@kreynolds1123]

Look into modeling electrolisys with electronic circuit elements. In short. Electrolisys can be modeled with a resistor followed by an ideal zener diode with a 1.24v forward voltage drop, wired in series after the resistor. The power then resistor consumes makes heat. The power the zener diode consumes splits water. Annidwalizwd zener diode will adjust its internal resistance to always drop the same voltage (its zener voltage) for any current flowing through it above 0. Consequently the resistor and zener diode make a voltage dividing network that we can analyze. Supply voltage - zener voltage drop = voltage drop across the resistor. And if 10 amps flows through a circuit and the supply were 5 volts. Then 5v × 10 = (5-1.24v=3.76v)×10amps + 1.24v×10amps) power in = power lost to heat + power that splits water. Another words 3.76v drop across the resistor × 10 amps = 3.76 watts lost to heat and 1.24v × 10 amps = 12.4 watts to split water. Given the circuit above supplied 5 volts and 10 amps flowing through it then the circuit's net resistance is r(total)=supplyvoltage/amps or 5v/10amps=0.5ohms while the resistor circuit elements resistance is resistor voltage drop/amp=3.76v/10amps=.376ohms and the effective resistance of the zener diode is 1.24v/10 amps=0.124 ohms. What can we do with this? If all other things remain the same but we 1) double the surface area, we drop the resistor by 1/2,the same as if we add two resistors in parallel to each other, which would allow more current to flow but doesn't change the efficency. If one doubles the distance they double the resistor element value like adding two resistors in serries. Electrolisys Under heavy loads with two plates placed very close to each other might both have bubbles limit effective surface area exposed to the electrolyte, and have bubbles reduce the effective ion conducting cross section, which has the effect of increasing resistance. This is the most simple model. If there are other chemicals that participate in side reactions, then that may complicate the model. But I hope this model helps illustrate how electrolisys product is all about the amps. And while voltage helps push more amps, overvolts (voltage above water splitting voltage)×amps is simply lost making heat.

[@johnslugger]

Now make Nitro-Glycerin using only electrodes, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Nitrate and Vegetable Oil. I can. Next make electric Aspirin and next make Electric Morphine.

[@mikeconnery4652]

Excellent video

[@robertfontaine3650]

Very nice discussion of electrolysis. thanks.

[@theodorekorehonen]

This was great! Can't say that I understood everything but learning through abstraction takes actual study for me rather than just watching a video. I did learn though and this gives me material for my next wiki binge!

[@theodorekorehonen]

And by all means, more theory is great. I'd love to see some demonstrations to go along as for me personally I learn much better that way. Thanks for putting all this out there! Electrochemistry has always been fascinating to me!

[@davidliddelow5704]

This video was very helpful and concise. I feel like i have a good working knowledge of electrochemistry now.

[@olimp231]

Thank you for the video. It was very informative

[@joideegacoizeega8329]

YES FINALLY

[@exo-580]

i like your video and now you have earned a new subscriber who likes chemistry!

[@ZoonCrypticon]

A great video-tutorial, thank you !

[@brooksbryant2478]

I’d be interested to learn more of the theory behind electrochemistry!

[@tjhouston4916]

Great video

[@alamagordoingordo3047]

Very clear explanatinion.

[@Scrogan]

Excellent video. I want to forward this to a Minecraft modder so he can make multiblock electrolytic and electrochemical cells for a tech modpack. I’m sick and tired of boring one-block GUI-based batteries and machines.

[@ScrapScience]

Haha! I'd love to see that.

[@suphomes8131]

Very helpful and informative. I didn't get to take chemistry please feed me more knowledge 🙏

[@adityabhatnagar7620]

Very good and intresting video ❤

[@petevenuti7355]

Two questions, and a compliment. Cathode , where electrons enter, thats how it should be teached. Very good! Thank you for the insight, it helps with all the changing names between batteries and battery charging and plating excetera. Makes it much simpler. Questions, 1) when talking about a flow battery where the electrolyte is the active part, and you're referring to the electrolyte as anodic or cathodic, does the same rule apply? Meaning if the electrolyte is getting reduced in the electorate is being oxidized, is that still the cathode even if the electrodes getting oxidized because it's in a flow battery? 2) do you know of any hydrophobic electrolytes? It's my understanding that some fluorinated anions and very long chain ophilic cations common in some ionic liquids when dissolved in a non-protic polar hydrocarbon might fit the bill. ??‽‽???

[@ScrapScience]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed As for your questions: 1) The electrode where reduction occurs is always technically the cathode in any given process. In batteries and flow cells, the cathode and anode electrodes technically switch their names when charging and discharging. Despite this, you'll still see people correctly refer to an electrode as a cathode during discharge, but then continue incorrectly calling it a cathode during charging. This convention is awful and confusing, so just note that whilst technically incorrect, many people (including respected scientific research) will do this. 2) That depends on how hydrophobic you mean. DCM can be an effective electrolyte, but maybe that's not hydrophobic enough for your question...

[@influencedapper]

Are there any particular tables, in a particular format, that come to mind, and stick in your mind in regards to common and useful recall when approaching aqueous/hydro metallurgy?

[@ScrapScience]

The table of standard electrode potentials is the only one I make use of regularly. I use solubility data a lot but never in the form of tables.

[@kerimkstati]

2:45 mercury & ammonia/Na electron conductive?

[@ScrapScience]

Yes, they are.

[@kerimkstati]

@ScrapScience and mercury can also be an ionic conductor ?

[@ScrapScience]

@kerimkstati since mercury is a metal, it’s only conductive for electrons, not ions.

[@kerimkstati]

@ScrapScience sorry, i got it wrong, i meant can it be an ion carrier? in chlor-alkali cells where it is like a membrane

[@ScrapScience]

In the case of a chloralkali cell, mercury is actually acting to transport sodium metal, not sodium ions. Sodium ions can be reduced to sodium metal on a mercury surface, and in the metallic form are soluble in the mercury, allowing them to be transported to another reaction vessel. From a circuit perspective, the only charges that the mercury can conduct are electrons.

[@Moritz___]

great video. came out just in time 2 days ago. but could not get the time to watch it. looking to craft together my first electrolytic cell beeing a chlorate cell from a phone charger and some carbon rods... well see how that goes

[@henryrroland]

Please, more videos about Butler-Volmer equation and Pourbaix diagram

[@No_One_0707]

MAKiT reference

[@vance7354]

Great Video!

[@ScrapScience]

Wow. Did you get here through the playlist? Very well done.

[@vance7354]

@@ScrapScience I am nearly out of videos to watch on your channel if im bein honest, i am on the heavy water play list now and i think that is the last one i have to watch lol

[@SodiumInteresting]

Good video

[@brothertyler]

Very well done my brother in Christ

[@zodd0001]

What if voltage is increased to 100 V or more ?

[@ScrapScience]

Mainly, a lot of energy will be wasted as heat. It's easy to assume the current draw would be enormous under these circumstances, but it's almost certain the current would be limited by some factor. In reactions that generate gas, the current would likely be limited by the formation of the bubbles on the electrode surface (which are insulating and block current flow). In reactions that don't generate gas, the current would probably be limited by the rate of transport of the reactants towards the electrode surface (or the products away from the electrode surface).

[@zodd0001]

@@ScrapScience I understand. Thanks.

[@neuroatypical6984]

I enjoy the theory based videos and think they make a nice first step but I also think they may disrupt your normal content I would recommend ether making a second channel with theory and linking to it or including sections of theory in your regular video's at the end

[@ScrapScience]

Noted! Thanks for the ideas!

[@andrewoutandabout7224]

Does the current flow backwards ? Negative to positive …..or did I miss something 😀

[@ScrapScience]

Electron flow occurs from negative to positive. It's opposite to conventional current. In general, positive charges flow from positive to negative, and negative charges flow from negative to positive.

[@sbandc]

I have a hypothetical. What would happen if you dropped a giant battery into a sea-sized bowl? How much power would the battery need to contain for the effect to be catastrophic?

[@ScrapScience]

What do you mean by catastrophic? Like an explosion?

[@vargtheoak4200]

Just need that 😅😮

[@petevenuti7355]

21:50 that molecule is what?

[@ScrapScience]

Propylene carbonate. It's a solvent with a much wider electrochemical window than water.

[@petevenuti7355]

@ScrapScience so that's what it looks like! I would have expected to see a -CO2 outside the ring, like the methyl group on the other side of the oxygen. But then if it wasn't attached to the ring wouldn't that have have turned into a carboxyl or a ketone, when I think about it.... Weird nomenclature.

[@deathkeys1]

damn, a proper class in electrochemistry, basic? yes, but a proper class nonetheless...

[@andrewoutandabout7224]

Hmmm there’s a flow both ways ….. I think lol

[@Hyo9000]

Oxidation is red in your mind? Haha, mine certainly gives it shades of red. Are you a synesthete, by any chance? I am. Reduction is a light-blue-shaded silver to me, fwiw :3

[@ScrapScience]

Not a synesthete - I wouldn't say my colour associations are anywhere near common enough or strong enough to meet that definition. My chemistry ones are all just based on the common molecular modelling colours (oxygen is red in those, so oxygen and oxidation just seem naturally red to me now).

[@Toksyuryel]

@@ScrapScience oxidation is commonly associated with combustion so it makes sense to me that it should be red

[@kevinlatulippe6944]

Lots of your videos are a miss and fail or create such weak products that the results are not very useful Also are labor intensive for little results or products

[@infectedrainbow]

Thank you so much for this in depth explanation of electron exchange during electrolysis. I'm just a hobbyist, mostly dealing with electroforming, but these details are completely overlooked in our community. I feel like most tutorials are a cartoon version, for literal morons, of this video.