Class-8 Electricity

Conductors and insulators
 A conductor is any material or substance that allows electricity to flow through it.
 An insulator is any substance or material that prevents the flow of electricity through it.
 Any substance can be called as a conductor of electricity if it allows movement of charges
through it.
 The electrons of the conductors can flow freely (they are delocalized) and hence can take
electric current through them.
 Insulators do not allow the flow of charges through them because their electrons are
tightly packed with their particles.
 Some materials can allow a little flow of electricity through them and are called poor
conductors of electricity.
 Some materials can allow the complete flow of electricity through them and are called
good conductors of electricity.
 Every material may conduct electricity in certain situations. For example, air is a bad
conductor of electricity but in case of thunderstorms and lightning it carries electric
charges through it. Hence, materials are always classifies as good and poor conductors
of electricity rather than conductors and insulators.
Can liquids conduct electricity?
 Not all liquids can conduct electricity. However, some of them can be regarded as good
conductors of electricity while others as poor conductors of electricity.
 Water containing salts and minerals dissolved in it always conduct electricity.
 Distilled water which does not contain any salts cannot conduct electricity.
 Any solution of acids or bases can also conduct electricity.
How do liquids conduct electricity?
 Different substances when mixed in water and electricity is passed through them can
break apart and form positive and negative particles or ions in the water.
 These ions can pass the electric current through them.
 The more is the number of ions in a liquid the better conductor it is of electricity.
 That is why distilled water is a poor conductor of electricity but salt water is a good
conductor of electricity.
 However, many compounds do not form any ions on mixing them with water and therefore
they are poor conductors of electricity such as sugar water, oil and alcohol.
What is electrolysis?
The effect in which components of a compound get split due to passing an electric current
through it is called electrolysis.
What is an electrode?
An electrode is a conductor of electricity that can carry electric current into non-metals and
other poor conductors of electricity.
What is an electrolyte?
A solution that breaks into its ions on passing electricity through it is called an electrolyte.
Electrolytes are used in the process of electroplating.
What are an anode and cathode?
The positively charged electrode is called anode and the negatively charged electrode is
called cathode.
What are anions and cations?
An anion is a negatively charged ion and a cation is a positively charged ion.
Chemical effects of electric current
We know that when an electric current passes through solution it ionizes and breaks down
into ions. This is because of chemical reactions that take place when an electric current
passes through a solution. Depending on the nature of the solution and the electrodes used,
the following effects can be observed in the solution:
1. metallic deposits on the electrodes
2. change in the colour of the solution
3. a release of gas or production of bubbles in the solution
Applications of chemical effects of electric current
Electroplating
 Electroplating is a process in which layer of metal is deposited on another material with
the help of electricity.
 Electroplating is used in many industries for depositing a layer of metal with desired
characteristics on another metal.
 Different metals used for electroplating are Nickel, Copper, Gold Silver, Tin, Brass, Zinc,
Chromium and Platinum.
Process of electroplating
 In order to conduct electroplating right electrodes and electrolytes must be chosen so that
metal can deposit over a material.
 For instance, if we want to deposit copper on a material we need an electrolyte that
contains copper in it. Similarly, if we need gold on a material we need an electrolyte that
contains gold in it.
 Also, we should make sure that the electrode that we are choosing is completely clean.
 The electrodes used are made up of different materials. One of the electrodes is of the
same metal of which the electrolyte solution is. The second electrode needs to be the
material on which we want to coat another metal.
 For instance, in case we want to plate copper upon brass, one electrode should be of
Copper and the other electrode should be of Brass and the electrolyte solution should be
any salt which contains copper in it, for example, copper sulphate solution. Consider the
diagram given below that describes the process of electroplating of copper.
Figure 6 Electroplating of copper on brass

 Out of these two electrodes the copper electrode acts as the anode (positive electrode)
and brass electrode acts as the cathode (negative electrode).
 When electricity is passed through the solution, the copper sulphate breaks down into its
ions.
 The copper ions (they have a positive charge) get attracted by the brass electrode while
the sulphur ions being negatively charged move towards the copper electrode.
 As a result, copper starts depositing on the brass electrode.
 The process of electroplating takes some time to complete.
 The amount of time that it will take depends upon the strength of the current that is being
passed through the circuit and also upon the concentration of the electrolyte.
 As these two are increased the speed of the electroplating process also increases.
Applications of electroplating
 Medical equipment is made up of nickel which is harmful to the human body hence to
avoid it from coming in contact with our body a coating of platinum or gold is applied on
the surface of nickel.
 Many kitchen equipments, bath taps, parts of cars etc. are covered with chromium
coating. Chromium is an expensive metal hence the objects are created with the cheaper
metal and chromium coating is provided. Thus, to bring a shining over the objects and
prevent them from corrosion chromium coating is used.
 Jewellery makers often make ornaments of less expensive metals and provide a coating
of gold or silver upon them.
 The tin cans that are used to store food are actually made up of iron and have a coating
of tin on them. Iron can easily react with food and spoil it, however, tin prevents the food
from getting reacted with iron and therefore helps in preventing it from getting spoiled
easily.
 Bridges and various parts of automobiles are made up of iron because it provides
strength. However in order to prevent iron from getting rusted a coating of zinc is
provided over it. This method is also called galvanization of iron.

Class-8 Electricity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Class-8 Electricity

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Class-8 Electricity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Conductors and insulators

Figure 6 Electroplating of copper on brass

You might also like