Topic: Chemistry

Date:

Grade: 11
Duration: 80+80 minutes

Objectives
1. Distinguish between metallic and electrolytic conduction.
2. Define electrolyte
3. Classify electrolytes as strong and weak, based on their conductivity.
4. Predict the electrode to which an ion will drift.
5. Predict possible chemical reactions with aid of electrochemical series.

Resources Material: CXC Module Electrolysis (Page 12-29) , CXC Chemistry -159-165, power supply, graphite electrodes
aqueous copper sulphate, crocodile clips

Teaching Strategy:
Day 1
1. Students will recall what are the conduction necessary to conduct electricity (mobile ions and electrons)
2. Teacher will ask students to explain why molten and aqueous ionic substance can conduct electrolysis but solid ionic
substances cannot.
3. Teacher will define electrolyte to students.
4. Students will recall what weak and strong alkalis are and weak and strong acid.
5. Teacher will used the examples in step 5 and define strong and weak electrolyte.
6. Students will be asked to comment on the conductivity of covalent substance and explain. (non electrolyte)
7. Teacher will describe experiments that students can use to differentiate between strong, weak and non electrolyte.
8. Teacher will draw and label and electrolytic cell with molten sodium chloride as the electrolyte. Teacher will define
the terms: cathode, anode.
9. Students will recall what ionic bonding is. Teacher will explain to students that electrolysis opposite of bonding.
10. Students will predict what happens during electrolysis of molten sodium chloride at the anode and cathode since it is
the opposite of ionic bonding.
11. Students write half equations for the reactions.
12. Explain why electrolysis is considered a redox reaction.
13. Write half equations for the reaction at the cathode and anode if molten zinc chloride is the electrolyte.

Culminating Activity: Question on the electrolysis handout.

Day 2
1. List the ions present in aqueous copper sulphate solution.
2. Students will be given the reactivity series and teacher will explain that in a aqueous solution students will have the
ions in the salt as well as the hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. Teacher will explain that the ions lower in the
electrochemical series will be preferential discharged.
3. Students will explain what would be the product of electrolysis when aqueous copper sulphate is the electrolyte.
4. a) Teacher will demonstrate electrolysis of aqueous copper sulphate. Students will observe the change in cathode and
electrolyte as well as the effect of a glowing splint on the gas at the anode. Teacher will dip blue litmus into the
solution.
b)Students will explain the following based on the experiment: the colour change on the cathode, the fading of the
electrolyte and the change of the litmus from blue to red.
c) Students with guidance of the teacher will write half equations for the reaction.
5. a) Teacher will demonstrate electrolysis of aqueous zinc chloride. Students will observe what happens when a lighted
splint is placed at cathode as well as the effect of a glowing splint on the gas at the anode.
b) Students with guidance of the teacher will write half equations for the reaction.
6. Students will observe the electrolyte Teacher will demonstrate electrolysis of aqueous copper sulphate. Students will
observe the change in cathode and electrolyte. Teacher will dip blue litmus into the solution.
7. Students will first state the electrode to which the ions will move, and subsequently, if more than one ions are moving
towards an electrode, state which would be preferentially discharged over the other.
Closing Activity
a. Draw an electrolytic cell with aqueous silver nitrate.
b. State the two ions which will migrate to the cathode.
c. Write half equations to show the reactions at the anode and cathode.

Evaluation
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