REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Batangas State University

Gov. Pablo Borbon Main I
Rizal Ave., Ext., Batangas City

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT NO. 1

ELECTROLYSIS

Laboratory Report

in

General Chemistry

SCI 401

by:

Pastidio, John Dominic E.

BSME-1110

Engr. Marjorie Jean A. Anog

December 12, 2019

 I. INTRODUCTION

II. OBJECTIVES
The following are the main objective of this experiment:
a. To be able to observe and explain the process of electrolysis;
b. To determine the differences in the reaction rates of electrolysis as a function of the
presence of material, and current.

III. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

FOR WATER ELECTROLYSIS:

MATERIALS EQUIPMENT/S

 2 PCS. OF THUMBTACKS  2 TEST TUBES

 RUBBER BAND
 2 PLASTIC CONTAINERS
 BAKING SODA (AS
ELECTROLYTE)
 MATCHSTICK

FOR ELECTROPLATING:
FIGURE 1. MATERIALS
MATERIALS EQUIPMENT/S
 MURIATIC ACID  1 400mL BEAKER
 3 BRANDS OF 9V BATTERY  2 PCS. ALLIGATOR CLIP
 COPPER WIRE  WEIGHING BALANCE
 NICKEL METAL

IV. METHODOLOGY

A. ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER

1. The materials and equipment required for the experiment were prepared. The
containers were checked if it is clean and dry before used and filled by fluids.
2. One plastic container was filled with ¾ water then some baking soda was
added while stirring. The solution was ensured that it was properly mixed.
3. The other container was cut horizontally into two. The other half of the
container that contains the base was used. The battery was placed under the
base of the container to make sure that the distance of the thumbtacks is same
as the distance of the battery then the distance was marked using marking
pen. The two thumbtacks were inserted to the marked location at the base of
the container. The experimenters made sure that water will not leak at the
bottom.
4. The container with thumbtacks was filled with the solution prepared.
5. The rubber bands were used to fix the Test Tube to the setup. The Test Tubes
were placed vertically on the top of the thumbtacks.
 6. The battery was connected into the thumbtacks. The experimenter decided to
use the alligator clip for better setup. The alligator clips were connected into
the battery and the other end of the connector was attached to the thumbtacks.
The anode and cathode were determined.
7. The amount of gas formed in the reaction from the anode and cathode was
observed. The test tube that contains hydrogen and oxygen gas was
determined.
8. After two minutes, the battery was disconnected.
9. The test tubes were carefully removed and separated without releasing the
gas inside.
10. The air in the test tube was lighted by the matchsticks. The anode test tube
and cathode test tube were observed, and the observation was noted.

B. ELECTROPLATING

1. The materials required for electroplating were prepared. The new batteries
were readied for use. The copper wire’s coating was removed, and the copper
strands were bundled up together to increase how compressed they are and
simulate the effect of having a copper rod. The weight of the copper wire was
weighed before the electroplating occurs.
2. Two (2) separate beakers were prepared and one had 100 mL of water and
the other had 100mL of muriatic acid. The acid was added to the beaker
containing water to avoid making the solution splash and slow down the
exothermic reaction that occurs when water is mixed with acid.
3. The copper wire turned rod was dipped into the solution and an alligator clip
was connected to it and linked to the positive side of the battery. Then an
alligator clip was clipped on a one-peso coin, which is made of nickel, and then
it was dipped into the acid before being connected to the negative side of the
battery.
4. The experimenter made sure that they are wearing face masks before they
connect the battery. The metal connected to the negative side of the battery
will begin to bubble up and change colours eventually. The electroplating is
done when the coin stops bubbling.
5. The weight of the coin after plating and the time it took before the coin is fully
plated or before the battery runs out of power in the case that it happens was
recorded. The process was repeated with the other two batteries and the
outputs were separately recorded.
 V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER
TABLE 1. OBSERVATION OF ANODE AND CATHODE IN ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER

ANODE CATHODE

CONNECTION TO THE
BATTERY
Positive Terminal Negative Terminal
(POSITIVE TERMINAL OR
NEGATIVE TERMINAL)

GAS Oxygen is the gas produced in Hydrogen is the gas produced

(HYDROGEN OR OXYGEN) Anode. in Cathode

Since the oxygen has a higher

Since the hydrogen has a lower
atomic weight compare to
atomic weight compare to
BUBBLE SIZE hydrogen therefore it
oxygen therefore it produced
produced large bubble
smaller bubble molecules.
molecules.

B. ELECTROPLATING

TABLE 2. WEIGHT OF COIN AND WIRE BEFORE AND AFTER ELECTROPLATING

Copper wire’s Coin’s weight Copper wire’s

Coin’s weight after
weight before before Weight after
SETUP electroplating
electroplating electroplating electroplating
(grams)
(grams) (grams) (grams)

(A)
1.45 4.61 1.44 4.64
Kingever

(B)
1.64 4.47 1.62 4.51
Eveready

(C) 1.57
1.57 4.56 4.58
Energizer
 TABLE 3. ELECTROPLATING DATA AND OBSERVATIONS
BRANDS OF 9V TIME TOOK IN ELECTROPLATING OUTPUT
BATTERY THE COIN (SECONDS)

Kingever (A) 503 seconds

Eveready (B) 389 seconds

Energizer (C) 287 seconds

VI. CONCLUSION