Notes on activities for teachers/

technicians for Chapter 4

Activity 4.1
The conductivity of liquids and aqueous solutions
Apparatus and chemicals
beaker (100 cm3) sodium sulfate solution
two graphite rods hydrochloric acid
two crocodile clips sugar solution
electrode support ethanol
low-voltage power supply and connecting wires copper(ii) sulfate solution
lamp sodium hydroxide solution
distilled water
Hazards
C sodium hydroxide solution
F ethanol
H hydrochloric acid solution, copper(ii) sulfate solution
Safety
Wear eye protection. Take care when handling the solutions, particularly sodium hydroxide, which is alkaline
and corrosive, and copper(ii) sulfate, which is acidic.
Practical points
This is a relatively straightforward experiment to carry out. Different groups in the class could try different
combinations of solutions/liquids to extend the range of possibilities tried.
The solutions should be at a concentration of 0.5 mol dm3.

Answers to questions
A1 There are positive and negative ions present that can move to the electrodes carrying the current. For
example, copper(ii) sulfate solution contains Cu2+ ions and SO42 ions; sodium hydroxide solution
contains Na+ and OH ions.
A2 A solution of hydrogen chloride in cyclohexane will not conduct electricity. Hydrogen chloride is a
covalent gas and it does not split into ions when it dissolves in an organic solvent such as cyclohexane.
However, when it dissolves in water, it ionises completely, making hydrochloric acid solution.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 1
 Activity 4.2
Web researching the extraction of aluminium
Note
Encourage students to look up any websites relating to the aluminium smelting industry in their home
country.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 2
 Activity 4.3
The electrolysis of concentrated sodium chloride solution
Apparatus and chemicals
electrolytic cell with wires and clips Universal Indicator solution
stand and clamp(s) Universal Indicator paper
small test tubes wooden splints
sodium chloride solution (1 mol/dm3)
Hazards
F Universal Indicator solution
Safety
One of the gases produced in this experiment is poisonous. Carry out the experiment in a fume cupboard.

Answers to questions
A1 The solution remaining in the cell is sodium hydroxide solution. This is because H+ ions are discharged
at the negative electrode and Cl ions are discharged at the positive electrode.

2H+ + 2e H2
2Cl Cl2 + 2e

The ions removed are H+ and Cl. Those that remain are Na+ and OH and they form sodium hydroxide.
A2 When a very dilute solution is used, oxygen is produced at the anode from the discharge of OH ions.

Note
The electrolysis of sodium chloride can be carried out using microscale apparatus. A worksheet and notes
on this method follow here. A useful demonstration of this electrolysis can also be set up in a U-tube using
Universal Indicator to show the changes taking place at the electrodes. Notes for this are also included.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 3
 Activity 4.3 Microscale experiment
What is formed by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution?
Apparatus and chemicals
ComboPlate two drinking straw electrodes
battery connector plus LED current indicator small vial
propette permanent marker
wooden spill concentrated brine solution
9 V battery Universal Indicator solution

Method
Your teacher will show you how to set up the apparatus. The diagram is shown to help you and detailed
instructions are given.

short end of red wire

connected to electrode 2

electrode 2

electrode 1 short black wire connected to electrode 1

long end of red wire connected

to positive terminal of battery
brine solution plus Universal Indicator

small sample vial

9V

long black wire connected to battery

negative terminal of battery

1 Push the current indicator into well E6 of the ComboPlate.

2 Mark each of the drinking straw electrodes into 1 cm units using a permanent marker.
3 Remove the lid from the small sample vial and half-fill the vial with brine solution (concentrated sodium
chloride solution) to which Universal Indicator has been added.
4 Turn electrode 1 upside down and fill it completely with solution from the sample vial.
5 Turn electrode 1 the other way up so that the solution remains as much as possible in the electrode.
6 Repeat steps 4 and 5 with electrode 2.
7 Connect the end of the long black wire to the negative () terminal of the battery.
8 Connect the end of the short black wire to electrode 1.
9 Connect the red wire to the positive (+) terminal and the short end to electrode 2.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 4
 Results
Record your observations in the table below.

Observations at electrodes
Reaction of gas produced with lighted spill:

At electrode 1
(the negative electrode or cathode)
Change in colour of Universal Indicator:

Smell of gas produced:

At electrode 2
(the positive electrode or anode)
Change in colour of Universal Indicator:

Conclusions
1 a Name the gas formed at the cathode.

b Using an electrode equation, explain how it is formed.

c Explain why the reaction taking place at the cathode is reduction.

2 a Name the gas formed at the anode.

b Using an electrode equation, explain how it is formed.

c Explain why the reaction taking place at the cathode is oxidation.

3 a There were four ions present in the solution before the electrolysis. Give their names and formulae.

b Which ones were removed through electrolysis?

c Give the ones that remain, and name the compound they form.

4 Use this information to explain the colour change in the Universal Indicator solution around the cathode.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 5
 5 Name the three main products formed by this process and for each one give at least two major uses.

6 Explain why this process is so economically important and give an outline of how chlorine and sodium
hydroxide could be manufactured using electrolysis.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 6
 Activity 4.3 Microscale experiment
What is formed by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution?
Apparatus and chemicals
ComboPlate two drinking straw electrodes
battery connector plus LED current indicator small vial
propette permanent marker
wooden spill concentrated brine solution
9 V battery Universal Indicator solution

Hazards
F Universal Indicator solution
Practical points
The drinking straw electrodes can be filled using the propette and this will overcome the problem of
having bubbles in the electrodes.
The salt solution should be as concentrated as possible. A saturated solution is a good idea. The Universal
Indicator should be added to this solution and this can then be used as stock.
The experiment is quite quick.
Explain that, when students are smelling the gas (at the anode), they should waft it towards their noses.
The waste from the electrolysis should ideally be poured down the sink in the fume cupboard (if one is
accessible); otherwise, it can be flushed down the sink with plenty of water.
Observations
At the cathode: Lighted spill extinguished with pop; Universal Indicator turns purple. The gas fills the straw
electrode.
At the anode: Very small volume of gas formed; smells like bleach (swimming pools); Universal Indicator is
bleached.
Answers to concluding questions

Answers to concluding questions

1 Hydrogen
formed from 2H+ + 2e H2; reduction since the hydrogen ions gain electrons
2 Chlorine
formed from 2Cl Cl2 + 2e; reduction since the chloride ions lose electrons
3 Na+ (sodium), H+ (hydrogen), Cl (chloride) and OH (hydroxide ions)
The ions removed are H+ and Cl and the ones that remain are Na+ and OH which form sodium hydroxide
(NaOH).
4 Sodium hydroxide is alkaline and changes the Universal Indicator from green to purple / hydroxide ions
are alkaline and change the Universal Indicator from green to purple.
5 Hydrogen Chlorine Sodium hydroxide
making margarine; as a fuel making PVC; bleach; disinfectant making ceramics; making bleach

6 The salt is very cheap and abundant and can simply be changed by a chemical process into economically
important chemicals with large-scale uses.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 7
 Activity 4.3 Demonstration
U-tube electrolysis
Apparatus and chemicals
U-shaped tube conc. sodium chloride solution
clamp and stand spatula
two graphite electrodes Universal Indicator
two electrode holders stirring rod
two leads distilled water
power pack eye protection
100 cm3 beaker
Method

power supply
set to 10 V

electrical leads
with crocodile clips

electrode holder
graphite electrode

clamp

U-tube
solution of salt and
Universal Indicator

Add several drops of Universal Indicator solution to a solution of sodium chloride. The amount added should
be sufficient to give the solution a reasonable depth of green colour. Then pour the coloured salt solution into
the U-shaped tube and set it up in a stand. Fit electrodes as shown and turn on the power pack and observe
closely what happens over a period of about 5 minutes. A piece of white paper held behind the U-tube can
help make the colour changes more easily visible.
Observations and explanation
Students should be able to notice bubbles of gas at each electrode. At the anode, the indicator initially turns
red but is then bleached colourless. This indicates the presence of chlorine. At the cathode the indicator turns
purple. The remainder of the solution stays green. At the negative electrode, the hydrogen ions are discharged
in preference to the sodium ions. These are also left behind in solution. Thus sodium hydroxide solution
remains. This is the cause of the purple colour of the indicator at the negative electrode.
Note
Worksheet 4.4 is designed to be used with this demonstration.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 8
 Activity 4.4
Electroplating copper with nickel
Apparatus and chemicals
one sheet of nickel (approx. 5 cm 3 cm) 6 V bulb and holder
one sheet of copper (approx. 5 cm 3 cm) steel wool
propanone connecting wires, with crocodile clips
sodium hydroxide solution (0.4 mol/dm3) two beakers (100 cm3)
nail varnish paintbrush
nickel(II) sulfate solution (30 g/dm3) 6 V battery or d.c. power supply
distilled water paper towels
electrode holder
Hazards
F propanone, nail varnish
H sodium hydroxide solution (0.4 mol/dm3)
T nickel(ii) sulfate solution
Safety
Wear eye protection.

Answers to questions
A1 The key to be plated is made the cathode / the anode should be made of silver / the electrolyte would be
silver nitrate solution.
A2 Ni2+(aq) + 2e Ni(s)
Ag+(aq) + e Ag(s)

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 9
 Activity 4.5
Electrolysis of copper(II) sulfate solution
Apparatus and chemicals
copper(ii) sulfate solution (0.5 mol/dm3), 200 cm3 d.c. power supply
beaker small light bulb
graphite rods connecting leads and crocodile clips
stand and clamp(s) for electrodes copper strips (cleaned with sandpaper)
Hazards
H copper(ii) sulfate solution
F propanone (if experiment extended to make it quantitative)
C sodium hydroxide solution (if experiment extended to make it quantitative)
Safety
Wear eye protection.
Practical points
If carrying out the experiment quantitatively, handle the electrodes carefully after the electrolysis because the
deposited copper is not firmly attached to the cathode.

Answers to question
A1 The copper electrodes would need to be thoroughly cleaned with sandpaper first. They should then be
cleaned of grease with dilute sodium hydroxide solution and washed with distilled water and propanone.
Following the electrolysis, the electrodes should be washed carefully with distilled water and
propanone. They can then be dried and weighed.

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Chemistry Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 4 10