Aim - Investigate the factor of concentration of ions on the selective discharge of ions at

the electrodes

Problem statement: How does the concentration of ions in hydrochloric acid affect the discharge of
ions at the anode?

Hypothesis : When the concentration of chloride ion is higher, the chloride ion will be
selectively discharged at the anode.

Manipulated variable: Concentration of chloride ion

Responding variable : Products of electrolysis at the anode//Ions discharged

Fixed variable : Type of electrode//Type of electrolyte//duration of electrolysis

Apparatus : Electrolytic cells, carbon electrodes, ammeter, connecting wires with crocodile
clips, batteries and glowing splinter

Materials : 1.0 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid, 0.001 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid,
blue and red litmus paper

Diagram

Procedure :
1.The cell is filled up with 1.0 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid until its level is above the electrode .
2. Fill two test tubes with 1.0 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid until full and invert it over the each carbon
electrodes
3. The electrodes are connected to the batteries and ammeter using connecting wires.
4. The electric current is allowed to flow for about 15 minutes.
5. Collect the gas produced at the anode and test with moist blue and red litmus paper and a
glowing splinter.
6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 by using 0.001 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid.

Observation:
Electrolyte Observation
Anode Cathode
1.0 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid
0.001 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid

Interpreting data
What prodyct are formed at the anode during electrolysis of
a. 1.0 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid, HCl?
b. 0.001 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid, HCl?

Write half equations to show how the products are formed at the anode during electrolysis of
a. 1.0 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid, HCl?
b. 0.001 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid, HCl?

Aim To construct the electrochemical series using the principle of

displacement of metals
Problem statement How can the displacement the electrochemical series of metals
be constructed based on the displacement of metals?
Hypothesis The greater the number of metals that can be displaced by a
metal than their solutions, the higher is its position in the
electrochemical series.
Variables Manipulated variables Pairs of metals and salt solution used
Responsible variable The number of displacement reactions
occurred
Fixed variable Concentration and volume of solution
-3
Materials 1 mol dm magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO3)2,solution
1 mol dm-3 zinc nitrate, Zn(NO3)2solution
1 mol dm-3 lead(II) nitrate, Pb(NO3)2solution
1 mol dm-3 copper(II) nitrate, Cu(NO3)2solution
Magnesium strips , Zinc strips , Lead strips and Copper strips
Apparatus Test tubes • Sandpaper
Diagram

Procedure operational definition: Displacement reaction occurs when there

is a deposition of metal.
 1. Pour 5 cm3 of solution into four separate test tubes.
2. For each test tube, place a strip of magnesium into each
solution.
3. Record all observations .
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 using strips of zinc, lead and copper to
replace the magnesium strip. For each repetition, use a fresh
salt solution. 5. Record all observations in a table.
Data and Metal strip magnesium zinc nitrate, lead(II) copper(II)
observation nitrate, Zn(NO3)2 nitrate, nitrate,
Mg(NO3)2, Pb(NO3)2 Cu(NO3)2

Magnesium
Zinc
Lead
Interpreting data 1. Which metal can displace the most number of other metals
from their solutions?

2. Which metal can be displaced by all other metals in the

experiment?
3. Arrange the metals in descending order based on the
electrochemical series and the number of metals displaced by it.

Discussion 1. Why is magensium nbot displaced by any other metals in this

experiment?
2. Write the equations fo show all displacement reactions by
zinc.
Conclusion