Chemical changes occurring in conducting liquids when electric current is passed through them is called chemical effects of electric current

Note : Chemical changes occur only in conducting liquids, and not in conducting solids

Some chemical effects can be

  • Bubbles of gases may be formed on the electrode
  • Deposits of metals may form on the electrode
  • Changes in color of the solution may occur


Bubbles of a gas on Electrodes

passing-current-through-water---teachoo.png

If electrodes are immersed in water (H 2 O),

  • Oxygen bubbles are found on positive terminal
  • Hydrogen bubbles fall on Negative Terminal


Deposit of Metal on Electrodes

deposit-of-metal-on-electrodes.png

Suppose we take copper sulphate solution and put 2 copper rods in it

We connect one rod to negative terminal of battery and other to positive terminal

 

If we pass an electric current through copper sulphate solution,

Copper and sulphates disassociate(copper and sulphate are separated)

 

Copper gets deposited on plate connected to negative terminal of battery

From the other plate, equal amount of copper gets dissolved in water and process continues




Change of Color of Solution

Here, we attach a tester to a potato

Potato is not a solution but a fresh potato contains solution of many substances dissolved in water.

change-of-color-of-solution.png

When we attach a tester to a potato,

After some time,greenish blue color is found on positive terminal

However,on the negative terminal,there was no such color

Go Ad-free
Maninder Singh's photo - Co-founder, Teachoo

Made by

Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo