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Lesson Plan

Lesson: Uses of Electrolysis

Aim :

To study the uses of electrolysis.

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. explain the uses of electrolysis in the manufacture of aluminium, treatment of

affluent, electroplating of plastics and anodisation of aluminium.

2. explain the advantages of recycling aluminium as compared to the extraction of

aluminium from its ore.

3. explain the manufacturing of chlorine by the electrolysis of brine by using a

diaphragm cell.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with the processes involved in an electrolytic cell.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Time taken to complete the activities : 80 minutes

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 3

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Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction. • Teacher to get students to explain
(Ascertaining prior the basic processes involved in an
knowledge and electrolytic cell.
introducing lesson
topic for the day). • Teacher to point out lesson objectives for
the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 - 4 • Courseware

with the students.

• Activity 1 : Manufacture of aluminium

Students get to view how aluminium is

extracted from its ore, bauxite. They are
also shown the advantages of recycling
aluminium as compared to extracting
aluminium from its ore.

• Activity 2 : Anodisation of aluminium

Students are shown how an aluminium is

anodised in an electrolytic cell.

• Activity 3 : Manufacture of chlorine

Students are shown how chlorine is

manufactured by the electrolysis of brine
in a diaphragm cell.

• Activity 4 : Electroplating of plastics

Students are shown how plastic can be

electroplated using ABS(acrylonitril-
butadiene-styrene) as an example.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to go through the extension • Websites

activities on their own. • Reference
books.

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Worksheet answers

1. Manufacture of aluminium

1.1 D

1.2 a. It will lower the cost of production as less energy is needed to melt the
mixture. Cryolite lowers the melting point of aluminium oxide.

b. It is being eroded after reacting with the oxygen gas produced during
electrolysis.

2. Anodisation of aluminium

2.1 D

2.2 The film of aluminium oxide formed acts as a protective layer against the attack of
acids and alkalis. The growing film of the oxide can incorporate dye molecules thus
forming an attractive coating on the surface of the aluminium.

3. Manufacture of chlorine

3.1 A

3.2 a. The plastic needs to be made a conductor of electricity by depositing a

layer of copper in a chemical dipping process.

b. Any solution of chromium salt.

c. Cr2+(aq) + 2e- Cr(s)

d. It is to make the plastic a conductor of electricity and also to make the

plastic more attractive.

4. Electroplating of plastics

4.1 B

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 3