IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences

Thursday 28 March 2024

Nisai Learning
C5 – Electricity and chemistry

Lesson 3
Nisai Learning
Recap

Why can’t solids be electrolysed?

Why can’t solids be electrolysed?

Solids cannot be electrolysed as the charged particles (ions) need to be

free to move.

Electrolysis of ionic compounds can only occur in molten state or in

solutions.
Progress Check
Solid lithium chloride cannot be electrolysed, but molten lithium
chloride can be electrolysed. Explain why (2 marks)
Progress Check - Answer
In a solid ions are not free to move and therefore can not be
electrolysed. In a solution or molten substance ions are free to move and
can therefore be electrolysed.
Which elements are these? Unscramble to
find out!
a) opcper
b) oirn
c) eruymcr
d) tnuitami
Which elements are these? Unscramble to
find out!
a) copper
b) iron
c) mercury
d) titanium
Lesson Objectives:
 Describe in outline the manufacture of chlorine, hydrogen and
sodium hydroxide from electrolysis of brine
 Describe in outline the manufacture of Aluminium
 Electrolysis of a concentrated solution of sodium chloride

Ions lose electrons: oxidation

2 H+ + 2e-  H2 2 Cl-  Cl2 + 2e-

Ions gain electrons: reduction

Sodium chloride - Brine

Sodium chloride (common salt) is an important resource.

Sodium chloride is dissolved in large quantities in seawater.

Salt can be obtained by mining or from allowing seawater to evaporate; the method used
depends on how the salt is to be used and how pure it needs to be.

Rock salt (un-purified salt) is often used on icy roads.

The salt lowers the freezing point of water from 0C to -5  C.
Sprinkling rock salt on roads means that any water present will not freeze to form ice unless the
temperature is very low.
Progress check – Answer in private chat

Watch the video of Electrolysis of brine – and answer the following questions:

1. What are the 3 products produced by electrolysis of Brine?

2. Why is hydrogen produced at the negative electrode (cathode)?

Electrolysis of brine

What are the three products of the electrolysis of brine?

 Products of Electrolysis of Brine
This the overall reaction is:
Electrolysis
NaCl (aq) + 2H2O (l)  Cl2 (g) + H2 (g) + 2NaOH (aq)

The electrolysis of brine is an important process, because the products are so useful.
Suggest the uses for each of the products.

Chlorine Hydrogen Sodium hydroxide

Answers - Uses of the products of electrolysis of brine

Product Test Uses Problems

To make bleach, to sterilise

water, to produce
Chlorine Toxic gas
hydrochloric acid,
production of PVC

Used in making nylon,

Hydrogen making margarine and as Flammable
fuels

In paper making, in soaps,

Sodium hydroxide detergents, rayon and Corrosive
acetate fibres, dyes
Answers - Uses of the products of electrolysis of brine

Product Test Uses Problems

To make bleach, to sterilise

damp blue litmus paper turns
water, to produce
Chlorine red (as chlorine is acidic) then Toxic gas
hydrochloric acid,
white (chlorine is a bleach)
production of PVC

Used in making nylon,

lighted splint gives a squeaky
Hydrogen making margarine and as Flammable
pop
fuels

In paper making, in soaps,

Sodium hydroxide turns red litmus blue detergents, rayon and Corrosive
acetate fibres, dyes
 Electrolytic diaphragm cell

• This process is also the basis of what

is known as the chlor-alkali industry.

• During the electrolysis of brine, the

three products are made.

• It is important to keep these products

separate, and this is why the
diaphragm cell is used.
The membrane down the middle lets ions
through, but keeps the gasses apart
 Q

1. The electrolysis of brine is a very important process. Explain why.

2. Explain why you need a membrane in the electrolytic cell for

electrolysis of brine?
Lesson Objectives:
 Describe in outline the manufacture of chlorine, hydrogen and
sodium hydroxide from electrolysis of brine
 Describe in outline the manufacture of Aluminium
 Extracting Aluminium

• Aluminium is extracted from the ore: Bauxite.

• The extracted bauxite is then purified into

Aluminium oxide.

• It is insoluble in water and has an extremely

high melting point (2045 oC)
 Extracting Aluminium

To reduce some of the costs in extracting What will be produced at the

Aluminium: anode and cathode?

• The Aluminium oxide is then dissolved in molten

Cryolite.

 This allows the ions to move when an electric current is

passed through it.

 The anodes are made from carbon and the cathode is the steel
case lined with carbon or graphite.
Extraction of aluminium
 The overall equation is:

2 Al2O3 (l)  4 Al (l) + 3 O2 (g)

Suggest some of the uses of Aluminium.

 Uses of Aluminium
Uses of Aluminium Properties making aluminium suitable for the use

Packaging – drink cans, foil wrapping, foil

Non-toxic; resistant to corrosion; impermeable
containers

High strength-to-weight ratio; low density; resistant to

Transport – airplanes
corrosion

Overhead electrical cables High electrical conductivity; low density

As a building material Easily shaped; low corrosion; High strength-to-weight ratio

For kitchen utensils Shiny appearance; non-corrosive

 Progress check

1. In the extraction of aluminium using electrolysis:

a) Why is cryolite used?

b) At which electrode do the aluminium ions form aluminium atoms?
c) Why is it necessary to replace the carbon electrodes regularly?

2. What properties of aluminium make it a suitable material for constructing an

aeroplane?
 Progress check - Answers

1. In the extraction of aluminium using electrolysis:

a) Why is cryolite used? Cryolite is added to lower the melting point of the
electrolyte (Al2O3) and so reduce costs.
b) At which electrode do the aluminium ions form aluminium atoms? Cathode
c) Why is it necessary to replace the carbon electrodes regularly? The oxygen
oxidises the carbon anodes forming carbon dioxide.

2. What properties of aluminium make it a suitable material for constructing an

aeroplane? High strength-to-weight ratio, low density and resistance to corrosion are
all reasons for choosing aluminium for the construction of an aeroplane.
End of unit
Practice questions
 1.

MCQ
 2.

MCQ
 3.

MCQ

4.
 5. During the electrolysis of aluminium oxide, which ions are reduced
and at which electrode does this reduction occur?

A aluminium ions at the anode

MCQ
B aluminium ions at the cathode

C oxide ions at the anode

D oxide ions at the cathode

MCQ
 2.

MCQ
3.
Practice exam style questions
7. Draw a diagram to show the apparatus and
materials set up to electroplate the metal
key with copper. [2]
Practice exam style questions

8.
Practice exam style
questions

9.
Practice exam style questions

10.
11.
12.
13.
Study the diagram of the electrolysis on the
right, and answer the following questions:

a) State the electrolyte being used.

b) What ions are present in this
electrolyte?
c) What product is formed at the
anode?
Electrolysis of hydrochloric acid

Produces chlorine at the positive electrode If the gas turns blue litmus paper red then white
(bleached) it is chlorine
Produces hydrogen at the negative electrode If the gas produces a squeaky pop from a
lighted splint, it is hydrogen
 Electrolysis of water

Negative oxide ions lose

Positive hydrogen ions electrons at the positive
accept electrons at the electrode - anode
negative electrode - cathode

2H2O(l)  2H2(g) + O2 (g)