Test : electrolysis O Level Revision test Max Marks :30

1 Which of the following requires the largest number of electrons for discharge?
A. 4 mol of Al3+ (aluminium) ions B. 5 mole of OH– (hydroxides) ions
2-
C. 4 mol of O  (oxides) ions D. 10 mol of Na+ (sodium) ions

2. What is the equation for the reaction that takes place at the negative electrode (cathode) during
the electrolysis of molten calcium chloride?
A. Ca2+ + 2e– –> Ca B. Ca –> Ca2+ + 2e–
C. Ca2+ + e– –> Ca+ D. 2Cl– –> Cl2 + 2e–
3. Which statement about solid calcium chloride is correct?

A It conducts electricity. B It has a low melting point.

C It has an ionic lattice structure. D It is insoluble in water.
4 The diagrams show an electrolysis experiment using inert electrodes.

liquid Y

– + – +

before electrolysis after electrolysis

What could liquid Y be?

A aqueous copper(II) sulfate B concentrated aqueous sodium chloride

C dilute sulfuric acid D ethanol

5 Dilute sulfuric acid is electrolysed between inert electrodes.

Which statements are correct?

1 Hydrogen is released at the negative electrode. 2 Oxygen is released at the positive

electrode.
3 Sulfur dioxide is released at the positive electrode. 4.The acid becomes more concentrated.

A 1, 2 and 4 B 1 and 2 only C 2 and 3 D 3 and 4

6. Which statement about the purification of copper by electrolysis is correct?

A A pure copper anode is used. B A pure copper cathode is used.

C The colour of the electrolyte fades throughout the process.
D The electrolyte used is a solution of copper oxide in water.
 7. Caesium, Cs, is in the same group of the Periodic Table as sodium.
Which products are obtained from the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous caesium chloride?

product at negative
solution remaining
electrode

A caesium hydrochloric acid

B chlorine caesium hydroxide
C hydrogen caesium hydroxide
D hydrogen hydrochloric acid
8. Which negative ions are present in aqueous copper(II) sulfate?

A copper(II) ions and hydrogen ions B copper(II) ions only

C sulfate ions and hydroxide ions D sulfate ions only
9.What are the correct anode (positive electrode) and cathode (negative electrode) products when
aqueous copper(II) sulfate is electrolysed using copper electrodes?

anode product cathode product

A aqueous copper(II) ions copper metal

B aqueous copper(II) ions hydrogen gas
C oxygen gas copper metal
D oxygen gas hydrogen gas
10 .Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is electrolysed using inert electrodes.

inert +ve –ve inert

electrode electrode

concentrated aqueous
sodium chloride

Which statement about this electrolysis is correct?

A Chloride ions travel through the solution to the negative electrode.

B Electrons travel through the solution to the sodium ions.
C Gases are given off at both electrodes.
D Sodium is formed at the negative electrode.
 1. Only liquids that contain moving ions can be electrolysed. These liquids are called
electrolytes.
(a) Complete the following table which shows the products formed when some liquids
are electrolysed using inert graphite electrodes. [2]
product formed product formed
ions present in
electrolyte at the positive at the negative
electrolyte
electrode electrode
aqueous copper(II) Cu2+, H+, OH–
sulfate SO42– ................................ ................................
concentrated aqueous H+, Na+, Cl –
chlorine hydrogen
sodium chloride and OH–

molten lead(II) bromide Pb2+ and Br– ................................ ................................

(b) When concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is electrolysed, chlorine is formed at the
positive electrode (anode) and hydrogen at the negative electrode (cathode).

(i) Construct the ionic equation to show the formation of chlorine at the positive
electrode. [1]

(ii) Explain why hydrogen is formed at the negative electrode rather than sodium.[1]

(c) Name a metal manufactured by the electrolysis of a molten ionic compound. [1]

2 a. (i) Name the ions present in molten copper (II) bromide and the products at the electrodes.

(ii) Write equations, including states symbols, to represent the reaction at the cathode and the
anode. [2]

(iii) Finally, write the overall reaction that occurs when molten copper(II) bromide is electrolysed.

b.Copper is oxidised by concentrated sulfuric acid.

This redox reaction can be represented by equations A and B.

A Cu Cu2+ + 2e–

B 4H+ + SO42– 2e– 2H2O + SO2

Which reaction, A or B, is oxidation and which is reduction? Explain your answer.

[2]
3. Dilute sulfuric acid can be electrolysed using graphite electrodes.

(i) Graphite is a good electrical conductor. Explain why graphite conducts electricity.

[1]

(ii) Give another property of graphite that makes it useful as an electrode in this
electrolysis. [1]

(e) During the electrolysis of dilute sulfuric acid, oxygen is released at the anode
(positive electrode) and hydrogen is released at the cathode (negative electrode).

(i) Complete the equation for the reaction at the anode.

4OH– O2 + ........... + ........... [1]

(ii) Construct the equation for the reaction at the cathode. [1]

(iii) Explain why the volume of hydrogen produced is approximately double that of
the oxygen.

4 The apparatus below is used to compare the results of passing a current through
aqueous copper(II) sulfate using different electrodes.
Cell A with carbon electrode cell B with copper electrode
(a) What colour is aqueous copper(II) sulfate? [1]

(b) (i) In which cell, A or B, is a colour change not seen in the solution? [1]

(ii) Describe what is seen at each electrode in this cell, as the electrolysis proceeds?
[2]

(iii) Explain why a colour change is not seen in the solution in this cell. [1]

(c) (i) What colour change is seen in the solution in the other cell? [1]