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Igcse - Chemistry: Electrolysis Questions + Past Papers Questions
Igcse - Chemistry: Electrolysis Questions + Past Papers Questions
ELHAGE
Electrolysis-Past papers questions
IGCSE - CHEMISTRY
Electrolysis questions + past papers questions
www.chem-exptc.com
2010
1. During the electrolysis of a MOLTEN salt (compound) the product at the CATHODE
is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Non metal
Metal
Sodium
Chlorine
2. During the electrolysis of a MOLTEN salt (compound) the product at the ANODE is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Non metal
Metal
Sodium
Chlorine
3. During the electrolysis of a MOLTEN sodium chloride ( NaCl ) the product at the
anode and the cathode are:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Anode
Cathode
Sodium
Sodium
Chlorine
chloride
Chloride
chlorine
Sodium
sodium
4. During the electrolysis of a MOLTEN lead iodide ( PbI 2 ) the product at the anode
and the cathode are:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Anode
Cathode
hydrogen
iodine
lead
lead
iodine
lead
iodide
iodine
Bromine
Iodine
A.
B.
Green, solid
Green, gas
Green, solid
Red brown, gas
C.
Green, liquid
D.
Green, gas
H 2( g )
B.
O2 ( g )
C.
SO2( g )
D.
7. During the electrolysis of a DILUTE CuSO4(aq ) the products at the CATHODE and
the ANODE are:
cathode
anode
A.
O2 ( g )
Cu (s )
B.
H 2( g )
O2 ( g )
C.
Cu (s )
O2 ( g )
D.
Cu (s )
SO2( g )
Blue
Red
Green
Violet
9. When a few drops of the universal indicator are added to the acid HCl (aq ) , the
expected colour is
A. Blue
B. Red
C. Green
D. Violet
10. An acid reacts with metal to produce
A.
B.
C.
D.
Salt + water
Salt + base
Salt + hydrogen
Water + carbon dioxide
15. When aqueous H 2 SO 4(aq) solution is electrolysed using inert carbon electrodes, the
substance formed at cathode is:
(a) hydrogen gas
(b) Oxygen gas
(c) Copper (II) ion
(d) Copper deposit
16. When aqueous H 2 SO 4(aq) solution is electrolysed using inert carbon electrodes, the
substance formed at anode is a:
(a) Gas that burns with pop sound
(b) Gas that relights a glowing splint
(c) Brown gas
(d) Pink solid
B. Lead(II) bromide
C. Sodium chloride
Carbon electrode
Carbon electrode
D. Sodium bromide
bubbles of
brown gas
Molten compound X
heat
18. The diagram shows the electrolysis to electroplate nickel with different metals
+
1
Ni
2
Ni
3
Ni
Aqueous
Copper (II) sulphate
Which nickel electrodes are plated with a metal?
A- 1 only
B- 1 and 3 only
C- 2 only
D- 2 and 4 only
4
Ni
Aqueous
sodium Chloride
19. Metal X is low in the reactivity series and it is liberated by electrolysis of its
bromide.
Metal X is 1 and the bromide is 2 .
Which words correctly complete gaps 1 and 2?
1
Lead
In solution
Lead
molten
C.
Sodium
In solution
D.
Sodium
molten
A.
B.
hydrogen
anode
anode
anode
cathode
C.
cathode
anode
D.
cathode
cathode
A.
B.
21. Two elements X and Y form ionic compounds, XBr2 and Y2O3. The
compounds are separately melted and electricity is passed through the
liquids.
What are the products at the cathodes?
A. bromine and oxygen
B. bromine and Y
C. oxygen and X
D. X and Y
23. What is the charge on an anode and the type of element formed at such an
electrode?
charge on anode
A.
negative
metal
B.
negative
non-metal
C.
positive
metal
D.
positive
non-metal
24. The diagram shows how to cause a chemical change in a molten compound.
+
electrodes
molten compound
heat
X is a ..1..;
Y is a ..2..;
A.
metal
non-metal
X3Y2
B.
metal
non-metal
X2Y3
C.
non-metal
metal
X3Y2
D.
non-metal
metal
X2Y3
26. In which electrolysis are chlorine, hydrogen and sodium hydroxide all
produced?
aqueous sodium chloride
A.
B.
C.
D.
cathode (ve)
A.
chlorine
sodium hydroxide
B.
sodium hydroxide
chlorine
C.
hydrogen
sodium
D.
chlorine
hydrogen
29. The diagram shows that two gases are formed when concentrated
hydrochloric acid is electrolysed between inert electrodes.
+ve
- ve
concentrated
hydrochloric acid
Which line correctly describes the colours of the gases at the electrodes?
anode (+ve)
cathode (ve)
A.
colourless
colourless
B.
colourless
yellow-green
C.
yellow-green
colourless
D.
yellow-green
yellow-green
30.
electrode X +
electrode Y
heat
What is seen at each electrode?
electrode X
electrode Y
A.
brown gas
silvery metal
B.
brown metal
green gas
C.
green gas
brown metal
D.
silvery metal
brown gas
31. The following electrolysis circuit is set up, using inert electrodes P, Q, R and
S.
Molten
Lead (II) bromide
Concentrated
hydrochloric acid
B. P and R
C. Q only
D. Q and S
32. The following electrolysis circuit is set up, using inert electrodes
At which electrode is a metal deposited?
+
A
+
C
D
Molten
Lead (II) bromide
Concentrated
aqueous
sodium chloride
33.
concentrated
hydrochlor ic acid
What should be shown at X when the solution has been electrolysed for some
time?
A
Cl 2
H2
Cl 2
H2
H2
O2
H2
Cl 2
aluminium
B.
copper(II) sulphate
C.
steel
D.
sodium chloride
35.
chlorine
+
positive
electrode
negative
electrode
porous
wall
A.
hydrogen
B.
hydrogen
hydrochloric acid
C.
oxygen
D.
oxygen
hydrochloric acid
36. Define
(a)Electrolysis
...
(b) Electrolyte (liquid)
...
(c)Conductor (metal)
...
(d) Anode
...
(e)Inert electrode
...
38. Name the products at electrodes, during the electrolysis ( using inert electrodes) of
(a) dilute sulphuric acid solution H 2 SO4 ( aq )
i. at anode , ii. at cathode
(a)
(b)
How are electrons removed from the outer circuit? and why?
40. In the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride ( M gBr 2 ) , using inert electrodes
(a) Give the formulae of the ions present:
.....
(b) what is observed at each electrode
at anode ....
At cathode......
At cathode......
(e)
(f)
(g)
At Cathode: ..
.......
42. The following diagram shows electroplating of a an iron spoon with copper
(a) The metal of which X is m ade is....
(b) Is X made anode or cathode ? ......
(c) Is the spoon anode or cathode ? ...
(d) A suitable electrolyte is .
(e) In case we need to electroplate the spoon with silver ,
suggest a suitable
(i) Anode ....
(ii) Electrol yte ..
Spoon
electrolyte
4 4 . The diagram shows a method for obtaining pure copper from impure
copper.
positive
Electrode
( Anode )
negative
Electrode
( cathode )
1-
D
electrolyte
Name each of the following substances
a) Substance A ..
b) Substance B
c) Substance C .
d) Substance D .
45.
Extraction of Aluminum
Molten Aluminum
collecting on the bottom
..
(d) Name the substance in which aluminum oxide is dissolved in the above
electrolysis process.
(e)
(f)
Write the balanced ionic equation for the reaction which takes place at the
cathode.
(g) Which electrode has to be frequently replaced during the process? Explain your
answer.
.
.
46. Zinc is extracted from its ore, zinc blende ,by reduction with carbon after being roasted
with air
a) Complete the following two equations for the reactions involved in this process
.. ZnS
ZnO
+ ...
...
.. ZnO +
. SO 2
. CO 2
Zn
47. (a)Name the 3 products obtained by electrolysis of KBr ( aq ) using inert electrodes
..
(a) How is Br 2 obtained from KBr ( aq ) ?
.....
........
(b) How is I 2 obtained from NaI ( aq ) ?
......
Porous
Wall
Anode
Cathode
.
..
..
.
(d) How is chlorine gas obtained from NaCl (aq ) solution?
..
..
(e)(a) Name the 3 products of the electrolysis of concentrated KBr(aq ) .
....,
.......,
.
(f) Write the ionic equations taking place at
(i) anode:..
..
....
50. The diagram below shows an apparatus in which the electrolysis of aqueous sodium
sulphate containing litmus solution was carried out.
Gas A
Gas B
Platinium Electrodes
Direct
Current
When the current was passed through the solution, the solution around the anode
turned red and the solution around the cathode turned blue. Gas A was found to
relight a glowing splint and gas B, when ignited, burned with pop.
(a) Give the formula of the four ions in aqueous sodium sulphate
.
. [2]
(b) Which ion caused the litmus to turn red?
.. [1]
(c) Which ion caused the litmus to turn blue?
. [1]
Name of gas
Gas A
Gas B
(ii) Explain why the addition of sodium sulphate to deionised water allows a reaction
to take place.
.
.
.
. [2]
Steel Cathode
Graphite anode
Graphite anode
Molten Calcium
Chloride
Graphite
(i) How would you convert lime (calcium oxide) into anhydrous calcium
chloride?
.
Part of circuit A to B
Carbon
Electrodes
Part of circuit C to D
C
Molten Lithium
chloride
heat
(i) Lithium chloride is an ionic compound. Explain why it conducts electricity in
molten state but not in the solid state.
.. [2]
(ii) How is electricity conducted in the part of the circuit labeled
A to B
C to D ... [2]
(iii) What would be the products of the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous
lithium chloride?
. [3]
Power supply
potassium bromide.
External Circuit
Electrodes
Molten potassium
bromide
heat
(i)
(ii)
[1]
2K + Br2
[2]
(iii)
Electrons are removed from the external circuit. Howe and where is this
done?
[1]
(iv)
Electrolyte
Electrodes
Change at
cathode
Molten
Carbon
Potassium
Bromine
metal formed formed
potassium
bromide
Aqueous
Change
at anode
Change to
electrolyte
Used up
Copper
copper (II)
sulphate
Carbon
hydrogen
gas evolved
Chlorine
formed
Potassium
hydroxide formed
[4]
54.
+
Brown fumes
Silvery metal
Molten Lead (II) bromide
Heat
(a) Explain why solid lead (II) bromide does not conduct electricity.
..
(b) Balance the equations for the reactions that take place at each electrode.
(i)
... Br
(ii)
Pb 2+ +
. e
Br2 + e
Pb
..
(d) Define reduction in terms of electrons
..
55. A metallic cup can be coated in silver by electrolysis. The process is called
electroplating
Cup
Metal electrode
electrolyte
(a) Identify the metal from which the used electrode is made.
(b) Suggest a suitable electrolyte that could be used. ....
(c) Should the cup be made anode or cathode? ...
56.
The diagram shows the apparatus used to electrolyse lead(II) bromide.
(a) The wires connected to the electrodes are made of copper.
Explain why copper conducts electricity.
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
(b) Explain why electrolysis does not occur unless the lead(II) bromide is
molten.
...................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
(c) The reactions occurring at the electrodes can be represented by the
equations shown in the table.
Complete the table to show the electrode (A or B) at which each reaction
occurs, and the type of reaction occurring (oxidation or reduction).
Paper3
57.
(a)The ions present are Na+(aq), H+(aq) ,Cl (aq) and OH(aq).
(i)Complete the ionic equation for the reaction at the negative electrode (cathode).
. + .
[1]
(ii)Complete the ionic equation for the reaction at the positive electrode (anode).
. - .
[1]
(iii)Explain why the solution changes from sodium chloride to sodium hydroxide.
... [1]
(b) (i) Why does the water supply industry use chlorine?
... [1]
(ii)Name an important chemical that is made from hydrogen.
... [1]
(iii)Sodium hydroxide reacts with fats to make soap and glycerine
What type of compound are fats?
... [1]
Nov-2008
1. Zinc is extracted from zinc blende, ZnS. Zinc blende is heated in air to give
zinc oxide . part of the zinc oxide reacts with sulphuric acid to give aqueous
zinc sulphate. This is electrolysed with inert electrodes (the electrolysis is
the same as that of copper (II) sulphate with inert electrodes).
ions present: Zn2+(aq) SO 24 (aq) H+(aq) OH-(aq)
(i) Zinc forms at the negative electrode (cathode). Write the equation for this
reaction.
... [1]
(ii) Write the equation for the reaction at the positive electrode (anode).
... [1]
(iii) The electrolyte changes from aqueous zinc sulphate to
... [1]
(a) Give two uses of zinc.
1......
2. .... [2]
Nov-2007
zinc
electrode
becomes
thinner
iron
electrode
bubbles of
hydrogen form
dilute
sulphuric acid
Which substance in this cell is the reductant and which ion is the oxidant?
reductant zinc
oxidant hydrogen ions
(ii)
[2]
What is the important large scale use, relating to iron and steel, of this
type of cell reaction?
voltmeter
V
electron flow
carbon
electrode
(inert)
carbon
electrode
(inert)
Potassium
iodide(aq)
Potassium
manganate(VII)(aq)
salt bridge
(allows ions to move from
one beaker to another)
The potassium manganate(VII) is the oxidant and the potassium iodide is the
reductant.
(i) Describe the colour change that would be observed in the left hand beaker.
pink or purple [1] to colourless or decolourised [1]
NOT red NOT clear
[2]
(ii) Write an ionic equation for the reaction in the right hand beaker.
2I 2e
I2
[2]
May-2006
... [2]
Nov-2005
SO 24 (aq),
H+(aq),
OH (aq)
(i) Write an ionic equation for the reaction at the negative electrode (cathode).
............................................................................................................[1]
(ii) A colourless gas was given off at the positive electrode (anode) and the
solution changes from blue to colourless.
Explain these observations.
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................[2]
(c) Aqueous copper(II) sulphate can be electrolysed using copper electrodes. The
reaction at the negative electrode is the same but the positive electrode
becomes smaller and the solution remains blue.
(i) Write a word equation for the reaction at the positive electrode.
............................................................................................................[1]
May-2004
2. Lead bromide was placed in a tube and connected to an electrical circuit as shown below.
d.c.power supply
bulb
LEAD
BROMIDE
TOXIC
heat
The lead bromide was heated until molten. A brown gas was given off.
[1]
(c) Name the brown gas. At what electrode will the gas be given off?
Name ....
electrode ....[2]
May-June - 2004
3. The diagram shows the apparatus used to find out the effect of an electric current on a
concentrated aqueous solution of sodium chloride.
[1]
May-June-2006
5. The diagram shows the apparatus used to pass an electric current through concentrated
hydrochloric acid.
chlorine
hydroge
n
[1]
(c) Give a test for the product at the negative electrode (cathode).
test ....
result .... [2]
oct-Nov-2005
positive
electrode
+
carbon
rods
negative
electrode
Concentrated
aqueous sodium
chloride and
universal indicator
aqueous
copper(II) sulphate
[1]
[2]
metal electrode
cup
electrolyte
(c) Suggest a suitable electrolyte that could be used to electroplate this cup.
..............................................................................................................................[2]
+ -
+
A
carbon
electrodes
+
C
molten
lead bromide
carbon
electrodes
aqueous
sodium chloride
heat
Each of the electrodes is labelled with a letter.
[4]
(c)Gases were produced at electrodes C and D. In each case name the gas and give
a test to confirm its presence.
(i) the gas produced at C ...............................................................................
test for this gas .........................................................................................................
[4]
(d) What change should be made so that sodium is produced at one of the
electrodes?
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
graphite electrodes
H 2SO 4 (aq)
(a) (i) Why was a small volume of sulphuric acid added to the water?
.......................................................................................................................
(ii)Name the gas collected in tube X and give a test for this gas.
gas ............................................................................................................................
test ............................................................................................................................
(iii) Name the gas collected in tube Y and give a test for this gas.
gas ............................................................................................................................
test ........................................................................................................................[5]
(b) State how the volume of gas collected in tube X compares with the volume of gas
collected in tube Y.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) Name a gas that may be used to sterilise water and give a test for this gas.
gas ...................................................................................................................................
test .............................................................................................................................. [2]
(d) A student added a small piece of sodium and a small piece of iron to separate samples
of water. What observations were made?
sodium ..............................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
iron ...................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [3]
Carbon
anode
Carbon
anode
aqueous sodium
chloride containing
some litmus solution
electrolysis proceeded.
........................................................................................................................... [1]
proceeded?
.............................................................................................................................. [1]
(c) The solution was replaced by a dilute solution of an acid. Suggest which acid
would produce the same gases as those produced with concentrated aqueous sodium
chloride.
(d) Under what conditions does the electrolysis of sodium chloride produce sodium at one of
the electrodes?
[Total: 9]
12.
The diagram shows a cell that can be used to make electrical energy.
voltmeter
rod of metal X, Y or Z
Magnesium
rod
electrolyte
(b) This table shows the results when rods of three metals, X, Y and Z, are used in separate
experiments.
All the metals are less reactive than magnesium.
rod 1
magnesium
rod 2
Voltmeter reading / V
2.72
0.78
1.10
magnesium
magnesium
magnesium
least reactive
(ii) What would you expect to see after the reaction had been taking place for some time?
...............................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................[3]
(a)
Write an ionic equation for the reaction between zinc and aqueous copper(II) sulphate.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
electrode 2
(Zinc)
copper
electrode
(b) Drawn an arrow on the diagram to show the direction of the flow of electrons in the wire.
[1]
(c) The voltage of the cell was measured when the following metals were used as electrode 2.
copper
iron
lead
zinc
metal
0.78
0.21
0.00
(d) When metal M was used as electrode 2, it produced a higher voltage than zinc.
Suggest a name for metal M.
........................................................................................................................................................ [1]
Pure copper
cathode
impure copper
anode
Electrolyte
(aqueous copper (II)
sulphate
(a) Describe what you would observe during this electrolysis and write the equations for the
reactions at the electrodes.
(ii)Explain why solid copper(II) sulphate does not conduct electricity but an aqueous
solution of copper(II) sulphate does conduct.
(c)Describe how the apparatus shown in the diagram could be modified in order to electroplate
an iron object, such as a knife, with nickel.
(d) Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze is less malleable than pure copper. Use ideas
about the structure of metals and alloys to explain why bronze is less malleable than pure copper.
15. An electric current can be generated by a simple electrochemical cell such as the one
shown.
V
magnesium
copper
Electrolyte
(magnesium sulphate)
(a) Explain why the flow of electrons is in the direction shown in the diagram. [2]
(b) Suggest why silver nitrate would not be a good electrolyte to use in this cell. [1]