FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

ELECTROCHEMISTRY CHM578
LABORATORY REPORT
EXPERIMENT 2: ELECTROLYTIC CELL

STUDENT’S 1. WAN NUR AIMIZAFIRA BINTI WAN

NAME MOHAMED ZAID (2018298144)
2. NUR IZZATI BINTI MD ASRAN
(2019989849)

DATE SUBMISSION: 8th MAY 2020

LECTURE’S NAME: DR. WAN ELINA FARADILLA WAN
KHALID
OBJECTIVE
To identify the reactions occurred at the anode and cathode during the
electrolysis of various aqueous salt solutions.
To observe the electrolysis of water and the gases liberated at the electrodes.
To study the suitable electrode and aqueous solution for water splitting process.

INTRODUCTION

Electrolytic cells convert electrical energy into chemical potential energy. The
process is known as electrolysis. The purpose of this is usually to convert reactants into
more useful products. Electrolysis is the process of electrically inducing chemical changes
in a conducting molten solution e.g. splitting an ionic compound into the metal and non-
metal. Electrolysis, process by which electric current is passed through a substance to effect
a chemical change. The chemical change is one in which the substance loses or gains an
electron (oxidation or reduction). The process is carried out in an electrolytic cell, an
apparatus consisting of positive and negative electrodes held apart and dipped into a
solution containing positively and negatively charged ions. The substance to be transformed
may form the electrode, may constitute the solution, or may be dissolved in the solution.
Electric current (i.e., electrons) enters through the negatively charged electrode (cathode);
components of the solution travel to this electrode, combine with the electrons, and are
transformed (reduced). The products can be neutral elements or new molecules.
Components of the solution also travel to the other electrode (anode), give up their
electrons, and are transformed (oxidized) to neutral elements or new molecules. If the
substance to be transformed is the electrode, the reaction is often one in which the electrode
dissolves by giving up electrons. Electrolysis is used extensively in metallurgical processes,
such as in extraction (electrowinning) or purification (electrorefining) of metals from ores
or compounds and in deposition of metals from solution (electroplating). Metallic sodium
and chlorine gas are produced by the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride: electrolysis of
an aqueous solution of sodium chloride yields sodium hydroxide and chlorine gas.
Hydrogen and oxygen are produced by the electrolysis of water.
MATERIALS AND APPARATUS
The lists of materials and apparatus used are:
i. Carbon/Graphite rods
ii. Copper plates
iii. 100 mL beaker
iv. Power supply
v. Two electrical wires (different colour) that attached to crocodile clips
vi. Cardboard with two holes
vii. Litmus paper (blue)
viii.

CHEMICALS/REAGENTS
The lists of chemicals used are:

i. NaCl solution
ii. NaBr solution
iii. Na2SO4 solution
iv. Phenolphthalein indicator

PROCEDURE
1. SET UP THE ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS

Two wire leads (different colours) that attached to crocodile clips were connected to a
direct current (DC) power supply (as in Figure2.1a). A glass U-tube was mounted on a
ring stand or clamp at a retort stand or a beaker was used to set up the electrolytic cell as
in Figure 2.1b. The crocodile clips were connected to the corresponding electrodes, listed
in Table 2.1.

2. ELECTROLYZE THE SOLUTIONS.

The U-tube or beaker was filled with a three-forth solution from table 2.1 and 10 drops of
phenolphthalein was added. The solution was electrolyzed at 6V for 5 minutes. The
suggested electrodes were used. During the electrolysis, the changes of the electrodes
were observed and recorded for any evidence of a reaction at anode and cathode
electrode.
 (Note: test for Cl2 gas. A greenish yellow gas with a pungent and choking smell is
released or the gas turns the blue litmus paper to red then white.)

No. Solution Electrodes (Anode and Cathode)

1. Distilled Water Carbon (Graphite)
2. 0.001M NaCl Carbon (Graphite)
3. 0.50M NaCl Carbon (Graphite)
4. 0.50M NaBr Carbon (Graphite)
5. 0.50M Na2SO4 Polished Copper Metal Strips
6. 0.50M Na2SO4 Carbon (Graphite)
Table 2.1: Suggested electrodes and the solutions

(a) (b)
Figure 2.1
RESULTS

Table 1 : Observations

Electrolyte Electrodes Observations (ie: Gas Evolved? Pink colour at

Solution electrode?)

A small amount of bubbles formed at anode and

Distilled Water Carbon/Carbon cathode.
(C/C) Pink solution appeared at cathode surface.

More bubbles evolved at anode and cathode

0.001M NaCl Carbon/Carbon surface.
(C/C) Pink solution appeared at cathode surface.

A cloudy solution with pungent odor formed at

0.5 M NaCl Carbon/Carbon anode. Litmus paper turned to white.
(C/C) A lot of bubbles formed at cathode surface and the
formation of pink solution at its surface.

A yellow-orange solution formed at anode surface.

0.5 M NaBr Carbon/Carbon A lot of bubbles formed at cathode surface and the
(C/C) formation of pink solution at its surface.

A lot of bubbles formed at both electrode surfaces

0.5 M Na2SO4 Carbon/Carbon but the amount of bubbles was about doubled at
(C/C) cathode than anode.
Pink solution formed at cathode surface.

At anode, the solution slowly turned to blue and no

0.5M Na2SO4 Copper/Copper evolution of bubbles.
(Cu/Cu) Initially, a lot of bubbles formed at cathode surface
but slowly the bubbles became less.
In the bulk solution, the formation of light blue
suspension and also the formation of black solid.
Table 2

Electrolyte Possible Migrating Expectation of selected ion discharged

Solution Species/Ions and product formed

Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at cathode: H+

0.001 M NaCl cathode:
(Dilute) Na+, H+ Product formed at cathode: H2 gas

C/C electrodes Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at anode: OH-

anode:
Cl- , OH- Product at anode: O2 gas

0.5 M NaCl Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at cathode: Na+

(Concentrated) cathode:
Na+, H+ Product at cathode: H2 gas

C/C electrodes Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at anode: Cl-

anode:
Cl- , OH- Product at anode: Cl2 gas

Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at cathode: Na+

0.5 M NaBr cathode:
Na+, H+ Product at cathode: H2 gas

Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at anode: Br -

C/C electrodes anode:
Br - ,OH- Product at anode: Br2 gas

Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at cathode: H+

0.5 M Na2SO4 cathode:
Na+ , H+ Product at cathode: H2 gas

C/C electrodes Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at anode: OH-

anode:
SO42- ,OH- Product at anode: O2 gas

Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at cathode: ?

0.5 M Na2SO4 cathode:
Na+ , H+ Product at cathode: ?

Cu/Cu Species/Ions migrating to Species/Ion discharged at anode: ?

electrodes anode:
SO42-, OH- Product at anode: ?
QUESTIONS

1. Would solid NaCl conduct electricity? Why did the salt make the water more conductive
to electricity?

No, Solid NaCl ( soluble salt ) do not have free electron to allow electric current to pass
through the substances. In the presence of water and when a voltage is applied, it aids the
salt to let the ions to be free, thus they are more in response to an electric field which
makes NaCl to be able to conduct electricity.

2. What gases were formed at anode and cathode in beaker containing 0.5M NaCl? Write the
half-reaction that occurred in this beaker.
At anode: Gas formed : H2, Hydrogen gas
Half-reaction: 2H2O(l) + 2e → H2 (g) + 2OH- (aq)
At cathode: Gas formed : Cl2, Chlorine gas
Half-reaction: Cl2(g) + 2e → 2Cl-(aq)

3. What was the purpose of adding phenolphtalein to the solution?

As an indicator which enables any changes to be observed.

4. If copper electrodes had been used instead of the carbon (graphite) electrodes for the
electrolytic cells, the observed reactions may have been different. Why?

Carbon electrode is an inert electrode, thus it will not compete with the ions present in the
solutions. By replacing carbon with copper which is not an inert electrode, it will undergo
erosion or electrodeposition instead of producing gas at the electrode.

5. Why does more gas form at one electrode than at the other electrode for electrolysis of
0.5M Na2SO4 solution?

Anode: O2 + 4 H+ + 4 e- → 2 H2O

Cathode: 2H2O + 2e → H2 + 2OH-

At cathode, reduction occurs and the H2 gas is evolved while at anode, oxidation takes place.
6. Calculate the volume of H2 gas that will be collected at cathode when an aqueous solution
of Na2SO4 is electrolyzed for 2 hours with a 10 A current at 0.5 atm.

Cathode (reduction): 2H2O + 2e → H2 + 2OH-

From reduction:
Assume temperature : 25℃ (room temperature)
1 mol H2 = 2e

s
( 10.0 A ) ×2 h ×3600
Q It h
n= = =
F F C
96500 ¿
mol e−¿
−¿ ¿
¿ 0.746 mol e

0.746 mol e−¿

PV =nRT
L∙ atm
0.373 mol × 0.08206 × 298.15 K
nRT mol ∙ K
V= =
P 0.5 atm
¿ 18.25 L

7. Fill in the blanks based on your findings of Exp. 2 which describing the electrolysis of
water process (including the electrochemical reactions occur at both electrodes, the
suitable electrode and electrolyte used).

The electrolysis of water is considered a well-known principle to produce oxygen and

hydrogen gas. There must be no unwanted gas evolved such as bromine or chlorine gas
occurs. Due to the electrochemical series, the most suitable electrode and aqueous solutions
for water splitting process are Copper/Copper and Na2SO4 respectively. Halide ions are
reduced at cathode and OH- is oxidized at anode. SO4 2- is the best anion that is the most
difficult anion to oxidize.
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION

REFERENCES
1. Frank C. Walsh, U of Southampton (1991); The-Overall-Rates-of-Electrode-
Reactions-Faradays-Laws-of-Electrolysis.pdf; [online]; Researchgate.net; date
viewed: 6th May 2020;
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293488646_The_Overall_Rates_of_Electro
de_Reactions_Faraday's_Laws_of_Electrolysis
2. Jasmine B., UC Davis (2012); Electrolytic Cells; [online]; Chemistry LibreTexts; Last
updated Jun 6, 2019; Date viewed May 6 2020;
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Module
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https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Module
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4.