Exercise 8.

Question 1

Plastic articles can be chromium-plated by coating them with a thin layer of graphite
paste, placing them in bath of aqueous chromium(III) sulphate and electroplating.
(RAM Cr, 52.0)

(a) In addition to electroplating, state the other four application (refer to syllabus)
of electrolysis. [4 marks]

(b) Suggest a reason why the article is first coated with graphite. [1 mark]

(c) What substance could be used for the other electrode in the electroplating cell?
[
(d) Draw a diagram of the electrical circuit for the electroplating above.

(e) If a current of 0.50 A were passed through the cell for 300.0 s, what would be
the increase in mass due to the chromium plating?

(f) Why is it not possible to coat articles with zinc by this method?

Question 2

Based on the chemical reactions involved at the anode and cathode, derive an
equation
representing the overall reaction during the electrolysis of brine, and use it to calculate
the ratio of masses of the sodium hydroxide and chlorine produced.
(RAM Na, Cl, H and O are 23.0, 35.5, 1.0, 16.0 respectively)

(24/4/2020, Friday)
Answer (8.8)

Question 1

(a)
extraction of Al,
anodization of Al,
Manufacture of Cl2 from brine,
the treatment of industrial effluent

(b) to make the electrode an electrical conductor

(b) chromium

(c)

(d)
Cr3+(aq) + 3e  Cr(s)
Q=It = 0.50 X 300.0 = 150 C
3 F  52.0 g Cr
150 C  150/3(96500) X 52.0
= 0.027 g Cr (2 s.f)

(e) H2 gas would be evolved instead of zinc being formed

Question 2

Anode: 2Cl-(aq)  Cl2(g) + 2e

Cathode: 2H2O(l) + 2e  H2 + 2OH-
Overall: 2NaCl + 2H2O  Cl2 + H2 + 2NaOH
Molar ratio of NaOH : Cl2 = 2:1
Mass ratio of NaOH : Cl2 = 2(23.0+16.0+1.0) : 35.5X2
=80.0 : 71.0
=1.13 : 1.00
Or 1.00 : 0.89