Question

State the first and second law of electrolysis.

Answer 1

Hint: Try to recall that Faraday proposed two laws of electrolysis to explain the quantitative aspects of electrolysis and by using these two laws you can easily calculate the amount of substance deposit and quantity of electricity passed through solution. Now by using this you can easily answer the given question.

Complete step by step answer:
It is known to you that the quantity of electric charge passed through an electrolyte and the amount of substance deposited at the electrodes was presented by Faraday in the form of law of electrolysis and named these laws as first law of electrolysis and second law of electrolysis.
Now, first law of electrolysis: According to this law, the amount of a substance deposited or liberated at any electrode is directly proportional to the amount of charge passed (utilized) through the solution i.e. \[W\alpha Q\]
or, \[W = ZQ\] where, W= weight liberated or deposited, Q= charge in coulomb and Z= electrochemical equivalent.
Second law of electrolysis: According to this law, during electrolysis when same amount of charge is passed through different electrolyte solutions connected in series then weight of substance dissolved or deposited at cathode or anode are in ratio of their equivalent weights i.e. \[\dfrac{{{w_1}}}{{{w_2}}} = \dfrac{{{E_1}}}{{{E_2}}}\].

Note: It should be remembered to you that One Faraday is the charge required to the quantity of charge carried by one mole of electrons (i.e. 96485 C). Also, you should remember that Faraday’s law of electrolysis establishes a relationship between amount of substance deposited or liberated and quantity of charge passed through solution.