IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

10 This question is about chemicals made from sodium chloride.

(a) A solution of concentrated sodium chloride is electrolysed.

Look at the diagram. It shows the apparatus used.

chlorine hydrogen

sodium chloride
solution

solution X

membrane

Hydrogen gas and chlorine gas are made.

(i) Write down a chemical test for hydrogen.

test ....................................................................................................................................

result .......................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Write down a chemical test for chlorine.

test ....................................................................................................................................

result .......................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) Solution X is also made in the electrolysis cell.

What is the name of solution X?

.................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Write down a use for hydrogen gas.

............................................................................................................................................ [1]

[Total: 6]
IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

6 This question is about electrolysis.

Look
e reaction.

Use e to represent an electron.

............................................................................................................................................ [2]
 (c) During an experiment 9.65 A is passed through molten lead bromide for 100 seconds.

A mass of 1.035 g of lead was made at the cathode.

In a second experiment 19.3 A is passed through molten lead bromide for 50 seconds.

The same mass of lead was made at the cathode.

Explain why.

Use ideas about current and time.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [2]

[Total: 6]
IGCSE chemistry SET X (Oxygen & oxides)

8 Nigel investigates the rusting of iron.

Look at the diagram. at the diagram.

It shows the apparatus needed for the electrolysis of molten (liquid) lead bromide.

dc power supply
+

carbon cathode carbon anode

molten (liquid)
ceramic crucible lead bromide
 heat

Look at the symbol equation. It shows how lead bromide is broken down during electrolysis.

PbBr2 Pb + Br2

(a) Electrolysis involves the movement of ions.

Molten (liquid) lead bromide can be electrolysed but solid lead bromide cannot.

Explain why.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [2]

(b) Molten lead bromide contains lead ions, Pb2+, and bromide ions, Br.

Bromide ions lose electrons at the anode to make bromine molecules, Br2. Construct the equation
for this electrod

It shows how he sets up his investigation.

Each test tube contains an iron nail.

1 2 3 4

air nitrogen air

iron nail

distilled water dry air water with no salty water

dissolved oxygen

After 2 weeks the nail in tube 1 was a bit rusty.

The nails in tubes 2 and 3 were not rusty.

The nail in tube 4 was very rusty.

(a) Two substances are needed for iron to rust.

Which two substances?

1 ................................................................................................................................................

2 ......................................................................................................................................... [2]
 (b) What substance speeds up rusting?

............................................................................................................................................ [1]

(c) Nigel repeats the investigation using aluminium instead of iron.

Aluminium does not corrode in any of the experiments.

Explain why.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [2]

[Total: 5]
IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

14 This question is about electrolysis.

What is the name of this gas?

Choose from the list.

chlorine hydrogen

hydrogen chloride

oxygen

answer ............................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Dilute ethanoic acid contains particles.

Look at the list of particles found in dilute ethanoic acid.

CH3COOH

CH3COO

H2O

H+

OH

(i) Write down the formula of one ion that is attracted to the positive electrode.

Choose from the list.

answer ........................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) Write down the formula of a molecule.

Choose from the list.

 answer ........................................................................................................................ [1]

[Total: 4]
IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

10 This question is about fuel cells.

Look at the diagram.

It shows a fuel cell.

light bulb

hydrogen gas oxygen gas

electrodes

electrolyte

(a) In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen react to release energy.

What is the name of this type of energy?

Choose from the list.

electrical

kinetic

nuclear

sound

answer ............................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to make water.

Write a word equation for this reaction.

............................................................................................................................................ [1]
(c) John collects some hydrogen gas in a tube.

John tests the gas to show that it is hydrogen. How does he do this?

test ............................................................................................................................................

result .................................................................................................................................. [2]

(d) Car makers may replace diesel or petrol engines with fuel cells.
 Other than cost, write down two reasons for doing this.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

2 ......................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 6]
IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

8 This question is about electrolysis.

Look at the table.

It shows the products of some electrolysis reactions.

Finish the table by filling in the gaps.

electrolyte product made product made

at cathode at anode
molten aluminium
oxygen
oxide

dilute sulfuric acid hydrogen

[2]

[Total: 2]
IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

9 This question is about electrolysis.

Look at the diagram.

It shows the apparatus that can be used to electrolyse solutions.

dc supply
+

negative electrode positive electrode

electrolyte

(a) Electrolysis is a type of chemical reaction.

What is meant by electrolysis?

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [1]

(b) Luke uses dilute hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte.

A gas is made at the negative electrode.

Look at the diagram.

It shows the apparatus that can be used to electrolyse solutions.

dc supply
+

light bulb

negative electrode positive electrode

 electrolyte

When a current flows the light bulb will glow.

The more a solution conducts the brighter the bulb.

(a) Luke uses potassium nitrate solution as the electrolyte.

A gas is made at the negative electrode.

What is the name of this gas?

Choose from the list.

hydrogen

nitrogen

nitrogen dioxide

oxygen

answer ............................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Dilute ethanoic acid contains particles.

Look at the list of particles found in dilute ethanoic acid.

CH3COOH

CH3COO H2O

H+

OH Luke

uses ethanoic acid as the electrolyte. Hydrogen is

made at the negative electrode. Explain why.

............................................................................................................................................ [1] (c)

Luke uses hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte.

The light bulb glows much brighter than with dilute ethanoic acid of the same concentration.
Explain why.

Use ideas about

strong and weak acids

ions.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [2]

[Total: 4]
IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

10 This question is about fuel cells.

Look at the diagram. It

shows a fuel cell.

light bulb

hydrogen gas oxygen gas

electrodes

electrolyte

In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen react to release energy.

(a) Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to make water.

What is the name of this gas?

Choose from the list.

hydrogen nitrogen

nitrogen dioxide

oxygen

answer ............................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Dilute ethanoic acid contains particles.

Look at the list of particles found in dilute ethanoic acid.

CH3COOH

CH3COO H2O

H+

OH Luke

uses ethanoic acid as the electrolyte. Hydrogen is

made at the negative electrode. Explain why.

............................................................................................................................................ [1]
 (c) Luke uses hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte.

The light bulb glows much brighter than with dilute ethanoic acid of the same concentration.

Explain why.

Use ideas about

strong and weak acids

ions.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [2]

[Total: 4]

1 In 1886, the modern electrolytic process for the extraction of aluminium was discovered in the USA
by C. Hall.

(a) Before this discovery, the only method of extracting the metal was by displacement.

(i) Name a metal that can displace aluminium from aluminium chloride.

..................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Write a word equation for this displacement reaction.

..................................................................................................................................[1]

(iii) Complete the equation for the reaction.

AlCl + .......................
...................................... + ........................................[2]
3

(b) Aluminium is produced by the electrolysis of an electrolyte that contains

aluminium oxide.

(i) Write an ionic equation for the reduction of the aluminium ion at the cathode.

...............................................................................................................................
...[2]

(ii) Name the main ore of aluminium.

...............................................................................................................................
...[1]

(iii) Complete the following description of the electrolyte by filling the spaces.

The electrolyte is a ................................................ mixture of aluminium

oxide and .................................................. which is maintained at 900 C.

 [2]

(iv) Explain why the gas given off at the anode is a mixture of oxygen and
carbon dioxide.

............................................................................................................................
.......

............................................................................................................................
...[2]

(c) One property of aluminium is that it resists corrosion because it is covered with a
layer of its oxide.

(i) Give one use of the metal that depends on this property.

...............................................................................................................................
...[1]

(ii) Give another use of the metal that depends on a different property.

use .............................................................................................................................

property..................................................................................................................[2]
(d) The graph shows how the rate of the exothermic reaction between aluminium and
hydrochloric acid varies with time.

rate of reaction

0
0 time

(i) Suggest a reason why the reaction goes slowly at first.

..................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Suggest two reasons for the increase in rate.

......................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................[2]

6 The electroplating of iron with chromium involves four stages.

1. The iron object is cleaned with sulphuric acid, then washed with water.
2. The iron is plated with copper. (a)
3. It is then plated with nickel to prevent corrosion. The
4. It is then plated with chromium. equ
ation for stage 1 is

Fe + H2SO4 FeSO4 + H2

(i) Write a word equation for this reaction.

[2]

(ii) Describe a test for the gas given off in this reaction.

test

result [2]

(b) The diagram shows how iron is electroplated with copper.

_
+

rod of
pure iron object
copper
copper(II) sulphate
solution

(i) Choose a word from the list below which describes the iron object.
Put a ring around the correct answer.

anion anode cathode cation [1]

(ii) What is the purpose of the copper(II) sulphate solution?

[1]

(iii) Describe what happens during the electroplating to

 the iron object,

the rod of pure copper. [2]

(iv) Describe a test for copper(II) ions. test

result

[3]

(c) Suggest why chromium is used to electroplate articles.

[1]

(d) The information below shows the reactivity of chromium, copper and iron with warm
hydrochloric acid.

chromium few bubbles of gas produced every second

copper no bubbles of gas produced

iron many bubbles of gas produced every second

Put these three metals in order of their reactivity with hydrochloric acid.

Write a word equation for this reaction.

............................................................................................................................................ [1]

(b) Car makers may replace diesel or petrol engines with fuel cells.

Other than cost, write down two reasons for doing this.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

2 ......................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Hydrogen gas, H2, reacts at one electrode in a fuel cell.

The reaction makes hydrogen ions, H+, and electrons.

Write an equation for this reaction. Use e to show an electron.

............................................................................................................................................ [2]

(d) Hydrogen can explode when it reacts with oxygen.

Heat energy is given out.

What type of reaction gives out heat?

Choose from the list.

dehydration

electrolysis
 endothermic

exothermic

answer ............................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 6]

IGCSE chemistry SET X (Electrolysis)

8 This question is about electrolysis.

Look at the diagram.

It shows the apparatus that can be used to electrolyse solutions.

dc supply
+

light bulb

negative electrode positive electrode

electrolyte
 The light bulb will glow when a current flows.

The bulb glows brighter when a solution conducts more.

(a) Luke uses potassium nitrate solution as the electrolyte.

A gas is made at the negative electrode.

 Most reactive

Least reactive
[1]

3 (a) Four bottles were known to contain aqueous ammonia, dilute hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide
solution and vinegar, which is dilute ethanoic acid. The bottles had lost their labels. The pH values
of the four solutions were 1, 4, 10 and 13.

Complete the table.

solution pH

aqueous ammonia

dilute hydrochloric acid

sodium hydroxide solution

vinegar
[2]

(b) The following apparatus was set up to investigate the electrical conductivity of dilute
acids.

_ bulb/lamp
+

carbon carbon
anode cathode

dilute sulphuric acid

bubbles of bubbles of
oxygen gas hydrogen gas

Dilute sulphuric acid is a strong acid. If it was replaced by a weak acid, what two
differences in the observations would you expect to make?

[2]

(c) When nitric acid is added to water the following reaction occurs.

- +
HNO3 + H2O NO 3 + H3O

Give the name and the formula of the particle which is transferred from nitric acid to
water.
 name

formula [2]

(d) This question is concerned with the following oxides.

aluminium oxide Al2O3

calcium oxide CaO

carbon dioxide CO2

carbon monoxide CO

magnesium oxide MgO

sulphur dioxide SO2

(i) Which of the above oxides will react with hydrochloric acid but not with aqueous
sodium hydroxide?

[1]

(ii) Which of the above oxides will react with aqueous sodium hydroxide but not with
hydrochloric acid?

[1]

(iii) Which of the above oxides will react both with hydrochloric acid and with aqueous
sodium hydroxide?

[1]

(iv) Which of the above oxides will react neither with hydrochloric acid nor with
aqueous sodium hydroxide?

[1]

7 Aluminium is extracted by the electrolysis of aluminium oxide dissolved in cryolite.

+
positive electrode

A A A
negative electrode electrolyte (aluminium
oxide dissolved
B in molten cryolite)
D
steel case
C
molten aluminium
(a) What information in the diagram shows that aluminium is more dense than the
electrolyte?

[1]

(b) What form of carbon is used for the electrodes in this electrolysis?

[1]

(c) Which letter in the diagram, A, B, C or D, represents the anode?

[1]

(d) Suggest why electrolysis is used to extract aluminium rather than reduction using
carbon.

[1]

(e) Oxygen gas is released at the anode.

(i) Where does this oxygen come from?

[1]

(ii) The oxygen reacts with the carbon anode to form carbon dioxide.
What is the formula of carbon dioxide?

[1]

(iii) Why does the anode decrease in size during electrolysis?

[1]

(f) Each electrolysis cell makes 212 kg of aluminium per day from 400 kg of aluminium oxide.
Calculate how much aluminium can be made from 1 tonne (1000 kg) of aluminium
oxide.

[1]

(g) Complete the following sentences about the electrolysis of aluminium oxide using
words from the following list.

atoms gaseous molten solid ions molecules

Aluminium oxide conducts electricity when it is because it

contains which are free to move. [2]

[Total: 10]