CHemistry 12

ELECTROLYSIS WORKSHEET

1.) If molten CuCl2 is electrolyzed using inert electrodes, what substances will be
produced at the anode and the cathode?

2.) An aqueous 1M solution of NiSO4 was electrolyzed using inert electrodes. What
substance was produced at each electrode? What is the minimum voltage that must be
applied to the cell?

3.) Predict the overall reactions which you would expect when the following are
electrolyzed?

a.) 1M NaI
b.) 1M KCl
c.) 1M CuF2
d.) 1M Ni(OH)2
e.) 1M K2SO4
f.) 1M Cu(NO3)2
g.) 1M NaOH2 using Fe electrodes
h.) 1M HI, using Cu electrodes
i.) 1M NiSO4, using Ni electrodes

4.) An aqueous solution of CuSO4 was electrolyzed using copper electrodes. The copper
anode contained a few percent silver as an impurity

a.) If 0.55 V is applied to the cell, will the copper in the anode oxidize?

b.) Will the silver oxidize?

c.) If the anode also contains a few percent of lead, will 0.55V applied to the cell
cause the lead to be oxidized?

d.) Which substance will undergo reduction at the cathode?

5.) What voltage must be applied to a 1.0M solution of HCl to cause any products to form
at the electrodes? What products are formed at the anode and cathode?

6.) An aqueous solution of Na2SO4 is electrolyzed. If litmus paper is dipped into the
solution around the anode during the electrolysis, what colour will the litmus paper
turn? What colour will the litmus turn when dipped in the solution around the
cathode? If the electric current is turned off and the anode and cathode solutions are
stirred together, what will be the pH of the resulting solution?

7.) Why can aluminum metal not be produced by electrolysis of aqueous AlCl3?
CHemistry 12

ANSWERS

1.) Cu (s) at the cathode; Cl2 (g) at the anode

2.) Ni (s) at the cathode; O2 (g) at the anode; 1.05V

3.) a.) 2H2O + 2I-  H2 (g) + I2 + 2OH- (10-7)

b.) 2H2O + 2Cl- -> H2 (g) + Cl2 (g) +2OH- (10-7)

c.) Cu2+ + H2O  Cu (s) + ½ O2 + 2H+ (10-7)

d.) Ni2+ + H2O  Cu (s) + ½ O2 + 2H+ (10-7)

e.) H2O  H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g)

f.) Cu2+ + H2O  Cu (s) + ½ O2 (g) + 2H+ (10-7)

g.) 2H2O + Fe  H2 (g) + Fe2+ + 2OH-

Fe2+ + 2OH-  Fe(OH)2 (s) (sneaky)

h.) 2H+ + Cu  H2 (g) + Cu2+

i.) Ni2+ + 2e-  Ni ( cathode )

Ni  Ni2+ + 2e- (anode)
Therefore nickel dissolves at the anode and is re-deposited at the cathode

4.) a.) Cu will oxidize to Cu2+

b.) Ag will not oxidize until all the copper is gone

c.) Pb will oxidize to Pb2+

d.) Cu2+ will be reduced to Cu, Pb2+ will not be reduced

(again until all the Cu2+ is gone – highly unlikely

NOTE: the copper has been purified since some impurities will not oxidize and
the impurities which do oxidize cannot be reduced

5.) 1.36V; Cl2 (g) at the anode; H2 (g) at the cathode

6.) red around the anode; blue around the cathode; pH = 7.0

7.) water will be reduced before the aluminum ion.

8.) Everybody loves Raymond. Except Chuck Norris.