Chapter 26 77

Chapter 26 Chlorine and Hypochlorite

A. Multiple Choice Questions (b) At electrode X: Yellowish green

At electrode Y: Colourless
1. B. Making explosives (c) At electrode X:
2. A. It is lighter than air. 2Cl(aq)  Cl2(g) + 2e
3. D. Iodine vapour is brown in colour. At electrode Y:
4. B. Chlorine water 2H+(aq) + 2e  H2(g)
5. D. (1), (3) and (4) only (d) 2H+(aq) + 2Cl(aq)
6. D. sodium iodide.  H2(g) + Cl2(g)
7. B. (1) and (3) only (e) Both chlorine and hydrogen are
8. B. (3) and (4) only soluble in water, but their
9. D. Upward displacement of air solubilities in water are different.
10. D. (1), (3) and (4) only Therefore, the ratio is not exactly 1 :
11. D. (2), (3) and (4) only 1.
12. B. True, True Besides, hydroxide ions may also
13. B. True, True undergo oxidation to give oxygen
gas, so it may affect the practical
B. Fill in the Blanks
ratio.
1. lower, oxidize
5. (a) Cathode: mercury
2. oxidation, permanent / long
Anode: carbon
3. Hypochlorite
(b) A: Chlorine gas
C. Comprehensive Questions B: Hydrogen gas
C: Sodium hydroxide solution
1. HKCEE Question (c) Na+(aq) + e + Hg(l)
 Na/Hg(l)
2. In industry, chlorine can be produced from (d) 2Na/Hg(l) + 2H2O(l)
the electrolysis of brine. The process can  2NaOH(aq) + H2(g) + 2Hg(l)
be carried out using two types of (e) This is because mercury is
electrolytic cells known as flowing recovered and it is not consumed
mercury cell and membrane cell. throughout the reaction. Thus, it is
circulated again for the discharge of
3. (a) Concentrated sodium chloride sodium ions.
solution (f) 1. Chlorine and mercury are very
(b) Electrode X toxic.
(c) 2Cl(aq)  Cl2(g) + 2e 2. Mercury is toxic and it is a
(d) 2H+(aq) + 2Cl(aq) volatile liquid at room
 H2(g) + Cl2(g) conditions.
(e) 1:1 3. Hydrogen gas is explosive.
4. Dilute and concentrated
4. (a) At electrode X: Chlorine gas sodium hydroxide solutions
At electrode Y: Hydrogen gas are corrosive. (Any two)

Chapter 26 Solutions (EE).doc

78 Part 6

6. (a) Membrane cell Number of moles of NaCl used in

(b) (i) A: Hydrogen gas electrolysis
B: Chlorine gas = 17.1 mol – 7.7 mol
(ii) A: 2H+(aq) + 2e  H2(g) = 9.4 mol
B: 2Cl(aq)  Cl2(g) + 2e According to the equation, the mole
(c) Terminal X is negative because the ratio of NaCl : H2 is 2 : 1, the mole
electrode is cathode. Terminal Y is ratio of NaCl : Cl2 is 2 : 1 and the
positive because the electrode is mole ratio of NaCl : NaOH is 1 : 1.
anode. Number of moles of H2
(d) C: Sodium hydroxide solution 1
=  Number of moles of NaCl
D: Used brine 2
(e) 2H+(aq) + 2Cl(aq) 1
=  9.4 mol
 H2(g) + Cl2(g) 2
(f) Adding chlorine to cold and dilute = 4.7 mol
sodium hydroxide solution to form Mass of of hydrogen
sodium chloride, sodium = 4.7 mol  (1.0  2) g mol1
hypochlorite (sodium chlorate(I) = 9.4 g
(NaClO)) and water. The resulting Number of moles of Cl2
solution is called chlorine bleach. = 4.7 mol
Mass of chlorine
7. (a) 2NaCl(aq) + 2H2O(l) = 4.7 mol  (35.5  2 ) g mol1
 2NaOH(aq) + Cl2(g) + H2(g) = 333.7 g
(b) Assuming the electrolysis was run Number of moles of NaOH
for one hour, i.e. 5 dm3 of brine was = 9.4 mol
used. Mass of sodium hydroxide
Number of moles of NaCl in brine = 9.4 mol  (23.0 + 16.0 + 1.0)
before electrolysis g mol1
3
Concentrat ion of NaCl(aq) (g dm ) = 376.0 g
=
Molar mass of NaCl
 Volume of NaCl(aq) 8. 1. It is a yellowish green gas at room
200 g dm 3 temperature and pressure.
=  5 dm3 2. It has a characteristic choking and
(23.0  35.5) g mol 1
pungent smell.
= 17.1 mol 3. The gas is much denser than air.
Number of moles of NaCl in brine 4. It is highly toxic and corrosive.
after electrolysis 5. It is soluble in water but more
3
Concentrat ion of NaCl(aq) (g dm ) soluble in non-aqueous solvents
=
Molar mass of NaCl such as volasil.
 Volume of NaCl(aq) (Any three)
90 g dm 3
=  5 dm3 9. 1. The reaction is incomplete.
(23.0  35.5) g mol 1
2. The “reactants” and “products” exist
= 7.7 mol at the same time.
3. The forward reaction and backward
reaction occur at the same time.

Chapter 26 Solutions (EE).doc

 Chapter 26 79

4. The reaction can start from either (b) 1. It is a yellowish green gas at
side of the chemical equation. room temperature and pressure
(Any two) 2. It has a characteristic choking
and pungent smell.
10. 1. It has a high melting point and 3. The gas is much denser than
boiling point. air.
2. It exists as a solid at room 4. It is highly toxic and corrosive.
temperature and pressure. 5. It is soluble in water but more
3. It is soluble in water but insoluble in soluble in non-aqueous
non-aqueous solvents such as solvents such as volasil.
volasil. (Any two)
11. (a) Dilute hydrochloric acid (c) Cl(aq) + ClO(aq) + 2H+(aq)
(b) Cl(aq) + ClO(aq) + 2H+(aq)  Cl2(g) + H2O(l)
 Cl2(g) + H2O(l) (d) When aqueous chlorine is added to
(c) Yellowish green an aqueous potassium bromide (KBr)
(d) Downward delivery / upward solution, the solution changes from
displacement of air colourless to orange / brown. The
(e) The solution changes from bromide ions are oxidized to
colourless to brown. bromine (Br2).
2KBr(aq) + Cl2(aq) Cl2(aq) + 2Br(aq)
 2KCl(aq) + Br2(aq) (yellowish green) (colourless)
(f) 1. Keep good ventilation in the  2Cl(aq) + Br2(aq)
laboratory because both (colourless) (orange/brown)
chlorine gas and bromine Since both bromine and iodine
water are toxic. dissolve in water to give an orange
2. Wear safety gloves and do not or brown solution, volasil is added
contact the solution with skin. to the reaction mixture to distinguish
3. Wear safety spectacles. between bromine and iodine.
After being shaken with volasil and
12. HKCEE Question then standing for some time, the
bromine formed dissolves in the top
13. (a)
volasil layer to give a deeper orange
or brown colour.
When aqueous chlorine is added to
aqueous potassium iodide (KI)
solution, the solution changes from
colourless to brown. The iodide ions
are oxidized to iodine (I2).
Cl2(aq) + 2I(aq)
(yellowish green) (colourless)
 2Cl(aq) + I2(g)
(colourless) (brown)

Chapter 26 Solutions (EE).doc

80 Part 6
After being shaken with volasil and
then standing for some time, the
iodine formed dissolves in the top
volasil layer to give a violet colour.
(e) Cl2(g/aq) + H2O(l)
HCl(aq) + HClO(aq)
(f) Litmus / Dyed cotton cloth / Linen /
Plant fibres / Cloth stained with
coffee or tea / Coloured paper (Any
two)
14. (a) It is used to kill bacteria in the water
of swimming pools.
(b) Chlorine gas can be used because it
dissolves in water to form
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and
hypochlorous acid (HClO or HOCl).
The hypochlorite ions in
hyprochlorous acid also have
bleaching power.
(c) If the water of swimming pools can
bleach coloured substances (e.g.
litmus, dyed cotton cloth, linen,
plant fibres, cloth stained with
coffee or tea and coloured paper),
the water should contain sodium
hypochlorite.
(d) The purple colour of flower is
decolourized.
ClO(aq) + flower
(purple)
 Cl(aq) + (flower + O)
(colourless)
15 – 16. HKCEE Questions
17. 1. Chlorine bleach is toxic. If waste
water containing chlorine bleach is
discharged into rivers and seas,
water lives may be killed.
2. Chlorine bleach is corrosive and
irritating. Concentrated chlorine
bleach is corrosive while dilute
chlorine bleach is irritating to our
eyes and skin.
Chapter 26 Solutions (EE).doc
3. Chlorine bleach has a smell of
chlorine gas which is toxic, pungent
and choking. Chlorine bleach should
be used in a well-ventilated
environment.
4. When chlorine bleach is mixed with
acidic substances (e.g. acidic
cleaners), toxic chlorine gas will be
evolved.
5. Chlorine bleach can damage delicate
materials (e.g. wool, silk, nylon,
leather, straw and paper).
(Any two)
D. Essay-type Questions
1. We can use aqueous chloride to
distinguish between sodium bromide and
sodium iodide. Add sodium bromide
solution and sodium iodide solution into
two test tubes. Add a few drops of
aqueous chlorine into the test tubes. The
test tube containing sodium bromide
solution changes from colourless to
orange or brown. This is because the
bromide ions are oxidized to bromine.
Cl2(aq) + 2Br(aq)
(yellowish green) (colourless)

 2Cl (aq) + Br2(aq)
(colourless) (orange/brown)
Then, volasil is added to the reaction
mixture. After being shaken with volasil
and then standing for some time, the
bromine formed dissolves in the top
volasil layer to give a deeper orange or
brown colour.
The other test tube containing sodium
iodide solution changes from colourless to
brown. This is because iodide ions are
oxidized to iodine.
Cl2(aq) + 2I(aq)
(yellowish - green) (colourless)

 2Cl (aq) + I2(g)
(colourless) (brown)
 Chapter 26 81

Similarly, volasil is then added to the

reaction mixture. After being shaken with
volasil and then standing for some time,
the iodine formed dissolves in the top
volasil layer to give a violet colour.

2. We can use potassium bromide solution to

distinguish between aqueous chlorine and
chlorine bleach.
Add aqueous chlorine and chlorine bleach
into two test tubes.
Add a few drops of potassium bromide
solution to the test tubes. Only the test
tube containing aqueous chlorine changes
from colourless to orange or brown. This
is because the bromide ions are oxidized
to bromine.
Cl2(aq) + 2Br(aq)
(yellowish green) (colourless)
 2Cl(aq) + Br2(aq)
(colourless) (orange)
Chlorine bleach does not react with
potassium bromide solution.

Chapter 26 Solutions (EE).doc