Question

State Faraday’s first law of electrolysis.

State the following:

Faraday’s first law of electrolysis.

Answer 1

Faraday’s first law of electrolysis states that “the amount of chemical reaction which occurs at any electrode during electrolysis by a current is proportional to the quantity of electricity passed through the electrolytic solution or melt”.

Answer 2

Faraday’s first law of electrolysis may be stated as follows.

The amount of substance liberated (or deposited) at a particular electrode during electrolysis is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity (total charge) passed in the solution.

W ∝ Q

Since Charge = Current × Time

we have Q = I × t

where I is the current (in amperes) passed in the solution for t seconds. Hence,

W ∝ I × t

or, W = Z × I × t    ...(i)

In the above equation, Z is a constant known as the electrochemical equivalent of the substance liberated at the electrode.

If I = 1 ampere and t = 1 s, we have

W = Z

Hence, electrochemical equivalent may be defined as the amount of substance liberated by a current of one ampere passed for one second.