GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition

Answers to End-of-chapter questions for Chapter 11, Electrolysis

It is very important that you are able to answer the questions on your own, using your
own knowledge of Chemistry.
Have a go at the questions first, and then check your answers using this page.
If you get a question wrong, try to work out where you have made an error.

1. electrolysis; negative; positive; solid; dissolved; cathode; anode; 2e–; Br2;

hydrogen; copper

2. a) A yellow patch moving towards the positive side

b) The negative chromate ions are attracted to the positive electrode. The
positive sodium ions are attracted to the negative electrode but cannot be
seen because they are colourless.

3. a) negative electrode; b) positive electrode; c) positive ion; d) negative ion

4.
Substance electrolysed What is formed at What is formed at
cathode? anode?
molten lead bromide a) lead b) bromine
c) molten potassium potassium chlorine
chloride
calcium nitrate solution d) hydrogen e) oxygen
copper chloride solution f) copper g) chlorine
h) molten aluminium aluminium oxygen
oxide
sodium iodide solution i) hydrogen j) iodine

5. a) e–; b) Li; c) 2e–; d) Ca2+

6. a) 2e–; b) 2Br–; c) I2; d) O2

Oxford University Press GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition © Ryan Books Ltd, 2016   page 1 of 2
GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition

7. a)

b) A dark red/brown solid deposit on the electrode

c) 2
d) Bubbles of a colourless gas
e) With copper electrodes, there would be no gas given off at the anode, the
anode would become thinner, and the solution would not become paler.

8. a) The ions in a solid cannot move / are fixed in position so the ions cannot get
to the electrodes / carry charge through solid lead bromide, therefore it does
not conduct electricity.
b) A Bunsen burner
c) Electrons; ions

9. The reactive metal ions and hydrogen ions from the water are both attracted to the
cathode. The reactive metal ions are more stable than hydrogen ions so they stay
in solution. So it’s the hydrogen ions that gain electrons, and hydrogen gas forms
instead of the reactive metal at the cathode.

10. a) A lot of copper in scrap is alloyed with other metals. If there is a low
percentage of copper in the alloy, it cannot be used as the anode to purify the
copper. If you add more copper to the alloy to raise the percentage, you can
purify it electrically but that makes copper even more expensive to recycle.
b) Bacteria can be used in bioleaching to extract copper from low grade ores and
from waste tips from copper mines. This is important because high grade
copper ores are a limited/non-renewable resource that will eventually run
out.

Oxford University Press GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition © Ryan Books Ltd, 2016   page 2 of 2