Grade 9

CHEMISTRY
LESSON 8 – ELECTROLYSIS – PART 3

MS.DISHNA KARUNASEKARA
LYCEUM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,
GAMPAHA
Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 1

ELECTROLYSIS
Objectives:
a) Describe electrolysis as the conduction of electricity by an ionic
compound (an electrolyte), when molten or dissolved in water, leading to
the decomposition of the electrolyte
(b) Describe electrolysis as evidence for the existence of ions which are
held in a lattice when solid but which are free to move when molten or in
solution
(c) Describe, in terms of the mobility of ions present and the electrode
products, the electrolysis of molten lead bromide, using inert electrodes
(d) Predict the likely products of the electrolysis of a molten compound
(e) Apply the idea of selective discharge (linked to the reactivity series for
cations, see 9.2) to deduce the electrolysis products of aqueous solutions;
describe the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride,
aqueous copper(II) sulfate and dilute sulfuric acid using inert electrodes
(f) Predict the likely products of the electrolysis of an aqueous electrolyte,
given relevant information
(g) Construct equations for the reactions occurring at each electrode
(anode and cathode) during electrolysis

(h) Describe the electrolysis of purified aluminium oxide dissolved in

molten cryolite as the method of extraction of aluminium (see 9.5(a))
(i) Describe the electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulfate with copper
electrodes as a means of purifying copper
Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 2

(j) Describe the electroplating of metals, including copper plating, and

recall one use of electroplating
(k) Describe the production of electrical energy from simple cells (i.e. two
electrodes in an electrolyte) linked to the reactivity series

 Electrolysis provides the evidence for the existence of ions.

Ex: Electrolysis of CuCl2(aq) using Carbon electrodes.

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Observations:

 Bubbling at anode(+).

 Pink solid deposited on cathode(-).

Conclusion:

 Chlorine must have a negative charge as it is attracted to the anode.

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 Copper must have a positive charge as it is attracted to the cathode.

Explanation:
Electrolytes:
CuCl2(aq) Cu2+(aq), Cl-(aq), H+(aq), OH-(aq)

Anode(+): 2Cl-(aq) Cl2(g) + 2e-

Bubbling
Cu is less reactive than H. Therefore Cu2+ ions will discharge.
Cathode(-):Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
Pink solid

V2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIT-_nghOB4

HW: 2017MJ/22-Q A4
A4 Sodium oxide, Na2O, is an ionic compound.

(a) State the electronic configuration for each of the ions in sodium
oxide.

sodium ion 2,8

oxide ion 2,8
[2]
(b) When molten sodium oxide is electrolysed, sodium and oxygen
are formed.
Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 5

Construct equations for the two electrode reactions.

reaction at the negative electrode

Na+ + e– Na

reaction at the positive electrode

2O2– O2 + 4e–
[2]
(c) Explain how molten sodium oxide conducts electricity.
Ions move / mobile ions / ions free to move
[1]
(d) Sodium oxide reacts with water to give sodium hydroxide.
Construct the equation for this reaction.
Na2O + H2O 2NaOH
[1]
[Total: 6]
Electrolysis of concentrated aqueous Sodium chloride using inert
electrodes
Brine is a Concentrated aqueous solution of sodium chloride(common
salt).
It can be obtained by pumping water into salt mines to dissolve the salt, or
by evaporating seawater.
A solution of brine can be electrolyzed in a cell known as a diaphragm
cell.
The anode is made of titanium, and the cathode of steel.
Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 6

Electrolytes:
NaCl(aq) Na+(aq), Cl-(aq), H+(aq), OH-(aq)

Anode(+): 2Cl-(aq) Cl2(g) + 2e-

Cathode(-):2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)

The two gases bubble off.

Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 7

Na+(aq) and OH-(aq) ions are left behind, giving a solution of sodium
hydroxide.
Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) NaOH(aq)

Some of the solution is evaporated to a give a more concentrated solution,

and some is evaporated to dryness, giving solid sodium hydroxide.

V3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwznB5obwiU

Uses of Chlorine

Chlorine, a poisonous yellow-green gas.

Used for making ...

 the plastic PVC (nearly 1/3 of it used for this)

 solvents for degreasing and dry-cleaning
 medical drugs (a large % of these involve chlorine)
 weed killers and pesticides (most of these involve chlorine)  paints
and dyestuffs
Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 8

 bleaches
 hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid It is also used as a sterilising
agent, to kill bacteria in water supplies and swimming pools.

Uses of Sodium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide solution, alkaline and corrosive.

Used in making ...

 soaps
 detergents
 viscose (rayon) and other textiles
 paper (like the paper in this book)
 ceramics (tiles, furnace bricks, and so on)
 dyes
 medical drugs
Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 9

Uses of Hydrogen
Hydrogen, a colourless flammable gas.

Used ...
 in making nylon
 to make hydrogen peroxide
 to ‘harden’ vegetable oils to make margarine
 as a fuel in hydrogen fuel cells
Electrolysis of dilute sulfuric acid using inert electrodes

Electrolytes:

H2SO4(aq) SO42-(aq), H+(aq), OH-(aq)

Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 10

Anode(+):4OH-(aq) O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e-

Gas A
Cathode(-):2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)
Gas B

Volume ratio
Gas A: Gas B
O2(g): H2(g)
1:2

Equation 1= 4OH-(aq) O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e-

Equation 2 = 2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)

Multiply Equation 2 by 2;

Equation 3 = 4H+(aq) + 4e- 2H2(g)

Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 11

Compare Equation 1 and Equation 3.

O2(g): 2H2(g)
1:2

Exercise 3
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5070/41/O/N/17 –Q1- Answers

Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 14

1(a) chlorine
litmus paper bleached
1(b) hydrogen
pops in a flame / lighted splint pops/burning splint pops
1(c)(i) dilute sulfuric acid or HNO3
1(c)(ii) oxygen
glowing splint (re)lights

Electrolytes:
HCl(aq) Cl-(aq), H+(aq), OH-(aq)
Anode(+): 2Cl-(aq) Cl2(g) + 2e-
Cathode(-):2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)

5070/41/O/N/19 – Q1 – Answers
Lesson 8 – Electrolysis – Part 3 - Page 15

Electrolytes:
CuSO4(aq) Cu2+(aq), SO42-(aq), H+(aq), OH-(aq)
Anode(+):4OH-(aq) O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e-
Cathode(-): Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)

Electrolytes:
KI(aq) K+(aq), I-(aq), H+(aq), OH-(aq)
Anode(+): 2l-(aq) l2(g) + 2e-
Cathode(-):2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)

Electrolytes:
H2SO4(aq) SO42-(aq), H+(aq), OH-(aq)
Anode(+):4OH-(aq) O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e-
Cathode(-):2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)