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Chemical Effects of Electric Current

When electric current is passed through a conducting solution, some chemical reaction takes place.

Example: -

(a) When electric current is passed through water, water dissociates into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is deposited over negative pole and oxygen is deposited over positive pole. Deposition of hydrogen and oxygen at different poles is visible in the form of bubbles.

(b) When electric current is passed through the solution of a metal salt, such as solution of copper sulphate, metal gets deposited at the negative pole, because metal is positively charged.

(c) Sometimes, the colour of solution also changes when electric current passes through it.

The above examples are some of the chemical effects of electric current. The chemical reaction depends upon the type of solution through which electric current is passed.