CHEMICAL EFFECTS OF

ELECTRIC CURRENT
Pre-assessment
1. Why are we advised not to touch electrical appliances
with wet hands?
An: Water is good conductor of electricity. It makes a
connection between the electric switches and our
body resulting in flow of current and giving us an
electric shock.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Understand the concept-Electroplating
 Identify the metal coated substances.
 Analyze the process- Electroplating.
 Predict the uses of electroplating in daily life.
 Identifying conduction of electricity throughout
liquids.
 Understand chemical effects of electricity.
 Meaning of conductors and insulators.
Very short answer type questions
1. Define electric current.
An: An electric current is the rate of flow of
electric charge.
2. What are conductors?
An: The materials which allow electric current to
pass through them.
3. What safety measures should be taken while
working with live electric wire?
An: Electrician must wear rubber gloves in his
hands or uses tools which have rubber coating on
their handles and wires must be coated with
insulating materials like PVC, rubber etc.
4. How can we find out whether the electric current is
passing or not?
An: With the help of a tester we can detect electric
current.
5. State two uses of electrolysis.
An: Jewellery made of cheap metal is electroplate
with silver or gold to appear as if made of silver or
gold.
Tin is less reactive than iron. So, iron cans used for
food items are electroplated with tin to prevent
spoilage from contact with iron.
Long answer type questions
6. Give two examples of substances which are good
conductors of electricity.
An: Metals and acids.
7. Name two insulators.
An: Rubber and Plastic.
8. What is meant by the Chemical effect of current?
An: When electric current is passed through certain
liquids or solutions that conduct electricity
chemical changes occur. This is called the
chemical effect of electric current.
9. What is electrolysis?
An: The chemical decomposition of a liquid or
solution while passing an electric current is called
electrolysis.
10. What is an electrolyte?
An: The liquid or solution that breaks up during
electrolysis.
11. Differentiate between conductors and insulators.
An:
Conductors Insulators
Materials which allow Materials which do not
electric current to pass allow electric current to
 through them. pass through them.
It has good thermal No thermal conductivity
conductivity
Making of wires and Used as an insulation in
conductors copper cables and
conductors.
Example: Iron, Copper Example: Wood, Plastic

12. How can you electroplate an iron spoon with

copper? Explain with the help of a circuit diagram.
An:

In the electrical setup, the iron is spoon made

cathode (-ve electrode) and a thin sheet of pure
copper is made anode (+ve electrode). The
 electrolytic solution is an acidified solution of
copper sulphate.
When electricity is passed through copper sulphate
solution, the copper metal gets dissolved in the
solution and gets electroplated on the iron spoon.

13. Electricians wear rubber sandals or shoes or

rubber hand gloves while working. Why?
An: Rubber is a bad conductor of electricity
because it has low resistance and it doesn’t allow
the electric current to flow through it. So,
electricians wear rubber gloves to protect
themselves from electric current.
14. Rajesh bought a bottle that was labeled as
distilled water. He had some doubts about it. Draw
and explain what test he could use to solve his
problem.
An:

Take small quantity of distilled water in a beaker

and take three wires to connect the circuit (Battery,
bulb). Use the tester to test the conductivity of
 distilled water. If bulb glows, He can predict it is a
conductor. But in this case bulb doesn’t glow.
So Distilled water does not conduct electricity.

Homework or extra work

15. Write a short note on
 Chemical effects of electric current
 Electroplating