Form 4 Chemistry

Chapter 6: Electrochemistry

*All metals are grey except Copper (Cu) is brown

Experiment 1: Lead (II) Bromide

Lead (Pb) A grey solid is formed.
Bromide (Br) A brown gas is released.

Experiment 2: Magnesium Oxide

Magnesium (Mg) A grey solid is formed.
Oxygen (O2) A colourless gas which rekindles a glowing splinter is released.
*All metals are grey except COPPER (Cu)

Experiment 3: Copper Chloride

Copper (Cu) A brown solid is formed.
Chloride (Cl2) A greenish-yellow gas is released.

FACTOR 1: Position of ion in the electrochemical series

Experiment 4: Dilute Sodium Sulphate Solution [Carbon electrodes]
Ions present are : Na+ ions SO42- ions
+
H ions OH- ions 4OH-  O2 + 2H2O + 4e-
Hydrogen (H2) A colourless gas which produces a ‘pop’ sound when tested with a burning splinter is
released.
Oxygen (O2) A colourless gas which relights a glowing splinter is released.

Experiment 5: Dilute Copper (II) Sulphate Solution [Carbon electrodes]

Ions present are : Cu2+ ions SO42- ions
H+ ions OH- ions 4OH-  O2 + 2H2O + 4e-
Copper (Cu) A brown solid is formed.
Oxygen (O2) A colourless gas which relights a glowing splinter is released.

Experiment 6: Dilute Silver Nitrate Solution [Carbon electrodes]

Ions present are : Ag+ ions NO3- ions
H+ ions OH- ions 4OH-  O2 + 2H2O + 4e-
SIlver (Cu) A grey solid is formed.
Oxygen (O2) A colourless gas which relights a glowing splinter is released.

FACTOR 2: Concentration of ion / electrolyte

Dilute Concentrated
Aqueous solution < 2 mol dm-3 = 2 mol dm-3 > 2 mol dm-3
Cl-, Br-, I- [Chloride, Bromide, Iodide] < 0.001 mol dm-3 > 0.001 mol dm-3

Experiment 7: Concentrated Sodium Chloride Solution [Carbon electrodes]

Ions present are : Na+ ions Cl- ions  Concentrated
H+ ions OH- ions
Hydrogen (H2) A colourless gas which produces a ‘pop’ sound when tested with a burning splinter is
released.
Chlorine (Cl2) A greenish-yellow gas is released.
Experiment 8: 1.0ml dm-3 Potassium Iodide Solution [Carbon electrodes]
[Iodide: More than 0.001 mol dm-3  Concentrated]
Ions present are : K+ ions l- ions  Concentrated
H+ ions OH- ions
Hydrogen (H2) A colourless gas which produces a ‘pop’ sound when tested with a burning splinter is
released.
Iodide (Cl2) A purple gas is released.

Experiment 9: 2 mol dm-3 Lead (II) Nitrate Solution [Carbon electrodes]

[Iodide: 2 mol dm-3  Concentrated]
Ions present are : Pb+ ions  Concentrated NO3- ions  Concentrated
H+ ions OH- ions 4OH-  O2 + 2H2O + 4e-
Lead (Pb) A grey solid is formed.
Oxygen (O2) A colourless gas which relights a glowing splinter is released.

FACTOR 3: Type of electrode

ACTIVE ELECTRODES : Metal
INERT ELECTRODES : Carbon / Graphite / Platinum

Experiment 10: Dilute Copper (II) Sulphate Solution [Copper electrodes]

Ions present are : Cu2+ ions SO42- ions Cu Cu2+
H+ ions OH- ions  Brown  Blue
Cathode (Cu): Anode (Cu):  Solid  Solution
Cu2+ + 2e-  Cu [Discharge] Cu  Cu2+ + 2e- [Ionisation]
Anode The copper cathode becomes thicker.
Cathode The copper anode becomes thinner.
The intensity of the blue solution remains the same
 Rate of discharge of Cu2+ ions is the same as the rate of ionisation of copper

Experiment 11: Dilute Silver Nitrate Solution [Silver electrodes]

Ions present are : Ag+ ions NO3- ions
H+ ions OH- ions
Cathode (Ag): Anode (Ag):
Ag + e  Ag [Discharge]
+ -
Ag  Ag+ + e- [Ionisation]
Anode The silver cathode becomes thicker.
Cathode The silver anode becomes thinner.

Experiment 12: Saturated Solution Chloride Solution [Graphite as anode ; Mercury as cathode]
Ions present are : Na+ ions Cl- ions
H+ ions OH- ions
Cathode (Hg): Anode:
Na + e  Na [Discharge]
+ -
2Cl-  Cl2 + 2e-
Na + Hg  Na / Hg (Sodium Amalgam)  Just combine together
[Concentration of Na+ ions is higher] [Concentration of Cl- ions is higher]
Uses of electrolysis in industries
(1) Extraction of metals
(i) Extraction of sodium from molten sodium chloride
Ions present are : Na+ ions Cl- ions
Cathode: Sodium (Na) A gery solid is formed
Anode: Chlorine (Cl) A greenish-yellow gas is released.

(ii) Extraction of aluminium from molten aluminium oxide

Ions present are : Al3+ ions O2- ions
Cathode: Aluminium (Al) A gery solid is formed
Anode: Oxygen (O2) A colourless gas which relights a glowing splinter is released.
*Anode has to be changed from time to time because the carbon anode corrodes.

(2) Purification of metals

*要抽的在 anode
Anode : Cu  Cu2+ + 2e- Anode : Ag  Ag+ + e-
Cathode : Cu2+ + 2e-  Cu Cathode : Ag+ + e-  Ag

(3) Electroplating
*要抽的在 anode
Anode : Cu  Cu2+ + 2e- Anode : Ag  Ag+ + e-
Cathode : Cu2+ + 2e-  Cu Cathode : Ag+ + e-  Ag