ELECTROCHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT 6.

3 (PEKA)
Title: The effect of the type of electrodes in electrolysis
Aim: To investigate the effect of specific electrodes on the electrolytic process
of an electrolysis.
Problem Statement:
Does the type of electrodes affect the type of products
formed during electrolysis?
Hypothesis:
When copper electrodes are used instead of carbon
electrodes, the types of products formed at the anode and the
cathode are different.
Variables:
Manipulated variable: Type of electrodes
Responding variable:

Types of products at the anode

Constant variables:

Type and concentration of electrolyte

Operational definition: Differences in observation at the anode indicate

different types of products formed.
Apparatus: Batteries, Connecting wires with crocodile clips, carbon electrodes,
copper electrodes, Ammeter, electrolytic cells, electronic balance,
sandpaper, wooden splinter, switch.
Materials: 0.1 mol dm-3 copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4 solution.

Diagram (Figure 6.9 & Figure 6.10)

Procedure:
1. The carbon electrodes were cleaned with sandpaper.
2. The anode and cathode were weighed individually, and then recorded in
the book.
3. The apparatus were setup as the above diagram.

4. Copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4 was poured into the electrolytic cell with
carbon electrodes.
5. The switch was turned on.
6. All observations were recorded.
7. The anode was taken out, dried and then weighed using an electronic
balance.
8. Steps 1 to 7 was repeated using copper electrodes to replace carbon
electrodes.
Data and Observation:
Electrode

Mass of the anode (g)

Before
After

Observation
Colourless bubble
gas released
which relights
glowing splinter at
anode. Brown
solid deposited at
cathode. The
intensity of
electrolyte
decreases.
Copper electrode
at anode becomes
thinner. Brown
solid deposited at
cathode. The
intensity of the
electrolyte
remains
unchanged.

Carbon

Copper

5.83

5.83

13.45

13.15

Interpreting data:
1. a) For the carbon electrodes, oxygen gas is formed at the anode.
b) The half-equation at the anode:

4OH - 2H2O + O2 + 4e

c) To confirm the product at the anode, test the gas with a glowing splinter. If
it relights the glowing splinter, then formation of oxygen gas is confirmed.
2.

a)

For the copper electrodes, the anode becomes thinner.

b) To confirm it, the anode is weighed before experiment and after

experiment.
c)

The half-equation at the anode:

Cu Cu2+ + 2e

Discussion:
The difference in observation made on the electrolytes of both the electrolytic
cells is because the use of different types of electrodes.
For the carbon electrodes, copper(II) ions in the electrolytes were selected to be
discharged. The amount of copper(II) ions will decrease after some time.
As for copper electrode, the copper electrode will dissolve in the electrolyte by
forming copper(II) ions; the copper(II) ions inside the electrolyte will be
discharged. The rate of formation of copper(II) ions and the discharge of
copper(II) ions are the same, therefore there will be no change of intensity of the
electrolyte.
Conclusion:
When copper electrodes are used instead of carbon electrodes, the product of
electrolysis at anode is different. Hypothesis is accepted.