...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

(ii) Construct the equations for the two electrode reactions.

cathode ..................................................................................................................... anode

........................................................................................................................
[4]
A5 Chlorine, hydrogen and sodium hydroxide are made by the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous
sodium chloride.

(a) Aqueous sodium chloride contains the following ions, Na+, H+, OH and Cl .

Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride can be electrolysed using inert electrodes. The

electrode reactions are represented below.

cathode 2H+ + 2e H2
anode 2Cl Cl 2 + 2e
 Sodium chloride is used in making many important chemicals including chlorine and hydrogen. an
d
(a) Write the electrode reactions for the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride. pre
ssu
Which electrode reaction is an oxidation? Explain your answer. re.
[3]
[3]

(b) Explain why the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride using inert electrodes
gives hydrogen.

[1]

(c) Explain the three stages in the purification of water supplies.

[3]

(d) Hydrogen is used to manufacture ammonia, NH3. Calculate the volume of hydrogen
needed to react completely with 240 dm3 of nitrogen, all gas volumes measured at
room temperature
Electrolysis is the decomposition of a liquid by the passage of an electrical current.
(ii)
(a) Aqueous copper(II) sulphate contains the following ions, Cu2+, H+, OH and SO42.
Aqueous copper(II) sulphate can be electrolysed using inert electrodes. Su
gg
est
The electrode reactions are represented below. wh
y,
cathode Cu2+ + 2e Cu as
anode 4OH O2 + 2H2O + 4e th
(i) Explain why copper, not hydrogen, is formed at the cathode. e
ele
................................................................................................................................... ctr
oly
................................................................................................................................... sis
pr
(ii) Explain why the formation of oxygen at the anode is an example of oxidation. oc
ee
................................................................................................................................... ds,
th
................................................................................................................................... e
co
(iii) The electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulphate using copper electrodes has a nc
different anode reaction. en
Give the equation for the electrode reaction at the anode. tra
tio
................................................................................................................................... n
[3] of
so
(b) Molten lead(II) bromide decomposes when an electric current is passed through it. diu
m
(i) Explain why solid lead(II) bromide will not conduct electricity but molten hy
lead(II) bromide will. dr
oxi
................................................................................................................................... de
in
th
(i) Explain why hydrogen, not sodium, is formed at the cathode. e
ele
................................................................................................................................... ctr
oly
................................................................................................................................... te
 increases.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
[2]
(b) Describe a chemical test for each of the gases produced during the electrolysis of
concentrated aqueous sodium chloride.

(i) chlorine

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

(ii) hydrogen

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
[2]

A5 (a) Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride contains H+ and OH ions.

(i) Give the formulae of two other ions present in concentrated aqueous sodium
chloride.

..............................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is electrolysed using inert graphite

electrodes.
Name the product formed at each electrode.

product at anode ......................................................................................................

product at cathode ...............................................................................................[2]

(b) Impure copper can be purified by electrolysis.

Draw a labelled diagram of the electrolytic cell that can be used to purify copper.

[3]
 (c) Aluminium is extracted commercially from an aluminium ore by electrolysis.

(i) Name an ore containing aluminium.

..............................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Name the element used as the anode in this process.

..............................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 8]

Electrolysis involves the decomposition of a compound by the passage of an electric current.

(a) (i) Complete the table, which relates to the electrolysis of different solutions using inert
electrodes.

electrolyte ions in product at product at

electrolyte anode cathode
dilute aqueous K+, H+, OH
oxygen hydrogen
potassium nitrate and NO3
concentrated
Na+, H+,
aqueous sodium chlorine hydrogen
OH and Cl
chloride
dilute aqueous Cu2+, SO42,
copper(II) sulfate H+ and OH ........................ ........................
dilute sulfuric acid
....................
oxygen hydrogen
....................
[3]

(ii) Explain why the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride liberates
hydrogen rather than sodium at the cathode.

..................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(iii) The electrolysis of dilute aqueous sodium chloride liberates oxygen at the anode.
Suggest why the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride liberates
chlorine rather than oxygen.

..................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Aqueous copper(II) sulfate was electrolysed using copper electrodes. The copper anode
lost mass as copper(II) ions were formed and the copper cathode gained mass as copper atoms
were formed.

(i) State one industrial application of this electrolysis.

.............................................................................................................................. [1]
 A1 (a) A student tried to pass an electric current through some solids and liquids.
The six experiments are represented by the diagrams below.

Zinc sulphate zinc ethanol

A B C

Distilled water solid copper(II) sulphate poly(ethene)

D E F

(i) In which experiments will the bulb light?

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) Give the name of an electrolyte shown in the diagram.

...............................................................................................................................[1]

(iii) In which experiment will oxygen be produced?

...............................................................................................................................[1]
(b) The following diagram represents the electrolysis of molten substance, X.
 (i) Label the anode and cathode on the diagram.

(ii) Suggest the name of substance X.

...................................................................................................................................

(iii) State the formula of the cation in X.

...................................................................................................................................

(iv) Explain why substance X conducts electricity when molten, but not when solid.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................... [5]
Structured questions:

13.Choose from the words, the term most appropriate for the descriptions below:
Rheostat, battery, ammeter, platinum, voltmeter, copper, cell
a A source of electricity
b A collection of cells
c An electrical device for measuring current
d A device for keeping current constant
e An inert electrode

Draw an electrolysis circuit incorporating all of these electrical devices.

14.The table below gives information about four substances, A, B, C and D, when they are
solid and when they are molten.
Solid Molten
Appearance Does the Does the Product at Product at
Substance
solid melt the anode the cathode
conduct? conduct?
A Yellow solid No No None None
 B White solid No Yes Bromine Lead metal
C Pink solid Yes Yes gas None
D Black solid Yes Yes None none
None
a Suggest possible identities for A, B, C and D.

b Is B a conductor, or an electrolyte?

c Is D a conductor, or an electrolyte?

d What type of bonding is present in A?

e What type of bonding is present in B?

15.Draw a simple electrical circuit that you could use if you wished to copper plate a nail.
Name the electrodes you use, indicating which the anode is and which the cathode is. Also
name a suitable electrolyte.

16.
Distinguish between Electrolysis and electrolyte

.

.

Distinguish between Cathode and cation

Distinguish between Anode and anion

Distinguish between Conductor and electrolyte.

.
17.Complete the table, naming the main anode and cathode products:

Electrodes Electrolyte Anode product Cathode product

Carbon Hydrochloric
acid
Carbon (dilute)
Hydrochloric
Carbon acid
Copper (concentrated)
Carbon Sodium
hydroxide
Copper(II)
sulphate
Copper(II)
sulphate

Questions
1. Say what is formed at cathode and at the anode during the electrolyses of the following
substances. Assume that carbon electrodes were used each time. You dont need to write
electrode equations.
a) Molten lead(II) bromide
b) Molten zinc chloride
c) Sodium iodide solution
d) Molten sodium iodide
e) Copper(II) chloride solution
f) Dilute hydrochloric acid
g) Magnesium sulfate solution
h) Sodium hydroxide

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

2. Some solid potassium iodide was placed in an evaporating basin. Two carbon electrodes
were inserted and connected to a 12 volt DC power source and a light bulb. The potassium
iodide was heated. As soon as the potassium iodide was molten, the bulb came on. Purple
fumes were seen coming from the positive electrode, and lilac flashes were seen around
the negative one.
a) Explain why the bulb didnt come on until the potassium iodide molted.

b) What name is given to the positive electrode?

c) Name the purple fumes seen at the positive electrode, and write the electrode equation
for their formation.

d) The lilac flashes seen around the negative electrode are caused by the potassium which
is formed. The potassium burns with a lilac flame. Write the electrode equation for the
formation of the potassium.

e) What differences would you expect to observe if you used molten sodium bromide
instead of potassium iodide?

f) Write the electrode equations for the reactions occurring during the electrolysis of
molten sodium bromide.

3. For each of the following electrolytes (i) write the cathode equation, (ii) write the anode
equation, (iii) say what has been oxidized and what has been reduced.
a) Molten lead(II) bromide using carbon electrodes

b) Sodium chloride solution using carbon electrodes

c) Calcium bromide solution using carbon electrodes

d) Copper(II) sulfate solution using carbon electrodes

e) Aluminum nitrate solution using carbon electrodes

f) Molten magnesium iodide using carbon electrodes

g) Dilute hydrochloric acid using carbon electrodes.

4.