Princess Margareth B.

Relevo
ST1201

SH1726

Water Electrolysis
Objective:

At the end of the exercise, the students will be able to:

• construct an electrolytic cell;
• determine the reactions taking place at each electrode; and
• identify the products formed at each electrode.

Materials:

• 6-volt or 9-volt battery

• two alligator clip leads or insulated wire
• beaker or glass
• piece of thin cardboard or cardstock
• two #2 pencils

Basic Principle/s:

Electrolysis is a process carried out in an electrolytic cell in which nonspontaneous redox

reactions are made to occur by using an external electrical energy source like a battery. The
electrons that come from an external power source are supplied to the cathode, while electrons are
consumed at the anode. The half-reaction that has a more positive standard reduction potential will
occur at the cathode while the half-reaction with a less-positive standard reduction potential, which
means the species is not more easily oxidized, will occur at the anode. The products are also tested
and confirmed with the use of certain indicators.

Procedures:

1. Fill the beaker or glass with warm water.

2. Carefully remove the erasers and metal sleeves to sharpen both ends of each pencil. These
pencils will serve as your electrodes.
3. Cut a piece of the cardboard to fit over the beaker, then punch two holes in the center of
the cardboard about an inch apart.
4. Push the pencils through the holes and set them in the glass. They should extend into the
water, but not touch the bottom of the glass. The cardboard will hold them in place.
5. Connect each pencil to the battery with an alligator clip lead attached to the exposed
graphite (pencil lead). If you don't have alligator clip leads, use two lengths of wire and
strip an inch of insulation off each end. Wrap the wire around the graphite of each pencil
and connect the wires to the battery. You may need to use tape to hold the wires in place.

07 Laboratory Experiment 1 *Property of STI Page 1 of 2

 Princess Margareth B. Relevo
ST1201

SH1726

Figure 7.1. Electrolysis setup

Questions:

1. Draw the electrolysis setup. Indicate the anode, cathode, electrolyte, battery, and
the direction of electron flow.

anode cathode

electrolyte

2. Write the reactions at the anode and the cathode.

On passing an electric current through the solution, water decomposes to

oxygen gas and hydrogen ions at the anode. In contrast, at the cathode, water is
reduced to hydrogen gas and hydroxide ions.
 Princess Margareth B. Relevo
ST1201

At anode (Oxidation): 2H2O(l)→O2(g)+4H+(aq) +4e–E0=–

1.23V2H2O(l)→O2(g)+4H+(aq)+4e–E0=–1.23V
At cathode (Reduction): 2H2O(l)+2e–→H2(g)+2OH–(aq)E0=–
0.83V2H2O(l)+2e–→H2(g)+2OH–(aq)E0=–0.83V
Overall reaction: 2H2O(l)→O2(g)+2H2(g)E0cell=–2.06V

3. Account for the visible results observed in terms of the products formed.
Electric current moves from the battery through pencils to water. Water is
decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen gas as it is made of these basic elements
and form bubbles around the pencil tip. Based on the electric polarity hydrogen
molecules emerge around the pencil end connected to the battery's positive node
(+) and oxygen on the pencil connected to the battery's negative node (-).
2H2O ---- Electric current --> 2H2 + O2

Also, since water has two molecules of hydrogen for every one molecule of
oxygen, you can say that pencil tip which has more bubbles is attracting hydrogen
and the other one is getting oxygen.

4. What is the significance of phenolphthalein indicator?

To indicate the endpoint of the titration.

video link of group 3 experiment:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/136Ymo9K2uA1gJuJN8a-Z_IX_3OoT1Fdu/view?usp=sharing

References
Ayson , M., & de Borja, R. (2016). General Chemistry 2. Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc.
Splitting Water: Electrolysis Experiments + Video. (2017, August 31). Retrieved from Home
Science Tools: https://www.homesciencetools.com/a/electrolysis-science-project
.

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