REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Batangas State University

Gov. Pablo Borbon Main I
Rizal Ave., Ext., Batangas City

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT NO. 1

ELECTROLYSIS

Laboratory Report

in

General Chemistry

SCI 401

by:

Igbus, Jerome M.

BSME-1110

Engr. Marjorie Jean A. Anog

December 12, 2019

 Laboratory Experiment no.1
I. Introduction

Electrochemistry is the study of electricity and how it relates to chemical reactions. Under
this study is the application of electricity to chemical reactions which manifests different effects.

Electrolysis is one of the processes involved in the study which includes breaking water
into hydrogen and oxygen by allowing passage of an electric current. Electrons from the electric
current causes a redox reaction in water which causes it to break down to its basic components
which are hydrogen and oxygen. The oxidation that happen in the anode (negative side) produces
hydrogen. On the other hand, the reduction that happens on the cathode (positive side) produces
oxygen.

Another application of electrochemistry is electroplating. Electroplating is a process that

uses an electric current to reduce dissolved metal cations so that they form a thin coherent metal
coating on an electrode. An experiment was conducted using readily available materials to
observe electroplating. Observations about appearance and weight will be recorded and analyzed
to see the effect of electroplating.

II. Objectives

1. To be able to observe and explain the process of electrolysis.

2. To determine the differences in the reaction rates of electrolysis as a function of the
presence of material, and current.

III. Materials and Equipment

In conducting the first experiment which is electrolysis the group prepared the following:
 2 thumb tacks
 2pcs 16 oz. plastic container
 Rubber band
 Baking Soda
 Match Sticks
 9V Battery
 1L distilled water
 2 test tubes
In conducting the second experiment which is electroplating the group prepared the following:

 50 mL Muriatic Acid
 2 alligator clip wire
 Distilled water
 3 different brands of 9V battery
 Copper wire
 Nickel (1-peso coin previous denomination)
 Beaker

IV. Methodology

The following are the steps followed by the group to observe the process of electrolysis.

1. Pin the 2 thumb tacks at the bottom of the cup. Put space in between the thumb tacks to
fit in with the terminals of the 9V battery.
2. Fill the other plastic container with distilled water. Then, mix baking soda in the water.
Stir until dissolved.
3. Put the 2 test tubes together with rubber band. Then pour water with baking soda on
each test tubes until almost full.
4. Place the container facing down the test tubes. Each thumb tack must be inside each
test tube. Secure the position using rubber bands.
5. Invert the container with the test tubes.
6. Fill the rest of the container with water mixed with baking soda.
7. Place the thumb tacks above the terminals of the 9V battery. Record observations.
 8. After a few minutes, lift the test tubes and light the opening of the test tubes using a
matchstick. Record observations.
The following are the steps followed by the group to observe the process of electroplating.
1. Fill the beaker with 50 mL of distilled water
2. Add 50 mL of Muriatic Acid
3. Connect the copper wires to the alligator clips. Each alligator clip must have 1 copper
wire.
4. Attach the Nickel or the 1-peso coin to the cathode/positive alligator clip(red)
5. Attach a stripped copper wire on the anode/ negative alligator clip(black)
6. Carefully submerge the 2 alligator clips in the solution. Make sure the 2 side are apart
from each other.
7. Attach the ends of copper wire in the battery. Place into respective terminals (positive to
positive, negative to negative)
8. Repeat procedure 7 for 2 minutes in each brand of battery.
9. After every test, record the weight of the 1-peso coin.

V. Results and Discussion

During experimentation on electrolysis, the group was able to make the water mixed with
baking soda fizz of produce bubbles. These bubbles were hydrogen gas produced from the
electrolysis. The bubbles were produced mostly on the anode or the negative side of the battery.
In theory, water is composed of 2 parts hydrogen and one-part oxygen. This means that the gas
produced in the anode test tube was hydrogen since it produced more gas than the other test
tube.

At the first observation, moist in the test tubes were visible, which happens because the
first set-up was done wrong. But at the final observation, the water seemed to decompose into
hydrogen and oxygen. The group believed because of electric current.

After lighting the opening of the test tubes, the group anticipated that the test tube will burn
since hydrogen is a flammable substance. However, due to mishandling and low quantity of gas
produced, the group failed to light the hydrogen. Other factors like the amount of water in the test
tube might have affected the amount of hydrogen produced.

During experimentation on electroplating, the group was able to test 3 different brands of
9V battery on electroplating a 1-peso coin. Eveready, Panasonic and HW are the 3 brands of
battery used in the experiment.

Brand of Battery Initial Weight Weight of Initial weight Weight of copper after
of Nickel (1- Nickel after of Copper electro plating
peso coin) electroplating
Eveready 5.28 g 5.30 g 0.10 g 0.10 g
 Panasonic 5.30 g 5.33 g 0.10 g 0.15 g
HW 5.33 g 5.37 g 0.15 g 0.10 g

After minutes of observing the solution of electroplating, few changes were visible. The
cation’s metal had formed into thin coherent metal that soon coated the electrode. Seemed like it
is the process of plating one metal onto another through a solution.

The weight of the nickel is consistently rising after electroplating with each battery. The
most weight added was in the last test which used the HW battery. It added 0.04g to the weight
of the nickel. On the other hand, the weight of the copper was inconsistent rising at the second
testing and dropping again in the third test.

VI. Conclusion

During the experiment in electrolysis, formation of hydrogen and oxygen is possible with
the use of current. The charge in the 9V battery was able to produce a current in the baking soda
water which then resulted in a reduction-oxidation reaction. The products of this redox reaction
are hydrogen and oxygen which manifested in the form of gas. Although the group was not able
to light the hydrogen, the bubble that formed inside the test tube was enough evidence that
formation of hydrogen and oxygen gas took place in the experiment. Hydrogen formed in the
anode and the oxygen formed in the cathode.

Electroplating forms a thin coating of cations on the electrode. It is measured through

weighing of the electrodes before electroplating. Increase in the nickel’s weight is observable. HW
9V battery contributed the most in the electroplating. Also, the initially yellow muriatic acid and
water solution became clear after the experiment.
 Laboratory Experiment no.2
Rusting Experiment
I. Introduction

Rusting is an effect of reduction-oxidation of iron particles with oxygen in water and air
moisture. Rust is an iron oxide. Constant exposure of iron to other substances that contain
moisture or is reactant to metals will cause the iron to corrode. This experiment is conducted for
the students to observe the different rates in which iron corrodes in different substances.

Varied circumstances will be set to determine which situation corrodes iron the most. Time
and properties of substances to be used are the independent variables. On the other hand, weight
of the uncorroded iron nail will be the dependent variable.

II. Objectives

1. To be able to explain the process of corrosion

2. To determine the differences in the reaction rates of corrosion as function or the
essence of oxygen in moisture and other chemicals
3. To compare the effects of corrosion to materials subjected to the reaction under
different conditions

III. Materials and Equipment

In order to observe the different rusting rates of iron in different solutions, the group prepared the
following:
 14 thick PET bottles with lid(250-300mL)
 1pc 16 oz. plastic container
 14 ordinary iron nails (2 inches)
 Sandpaper rough
 1L distilled water
 220 mL cooking oil
 4 packets of chlorox
 100g rock salt
 500mL Carbonated drink (sprite)
 Vinegar
 Kalamansi / Lemon juice

IV. Methodology

The group followed the following procedures in order to observe the different rusting rates of iron.

1. Clean and dry the PET bottles. Then, using a marker, label 7 of the bottles from A to G
and the other 7 from 1 to 7.
2. Sand 7 iron nails.
3. Fill bottle A and 1 with 125 mL or distilled water.
4. Weigh 1 sanded iron nail and 1 regular iron nail. Record the weight assigned to the nail
in each bottle. Put the sanded iron nail in bottle 1 and the regular in bottle A
5. Fill bottle B and 2 with 125 mL or distilled water. Add 50g of salt. Then repeat procedure
4 placing regular iron in Letter labeled bottle and the sanded iron nail in the numbered
bottle.
6. Fill bottle C and 3 with 125 mL of distilled water. Then, pour cooking oil until a layer forms
above the water. Repeat procedure 4.
7. Fill bottle D and 4 with 125 mL of distilled water. Add 2 packets of chlorox in each bottle.
Repeat procedure 4
8. Fill bottle E and 5 with Kalamansi/ Lemon juice until half-full. Repeat procedure 4.
9. Fill bottle F and 6 with Vinegar until half-full. Repeat procedure 4.
10. Fill bottle G and 7 with 250 mL carbonated drink per bottle. Repeat procedure 4.
11. Record observations for 1st day, 4th day, and 6th day of leaving the nails submerged.
V. Results and Discussion

Each nail was weighed before submerging into the water. The initial data will be compared
the succeeding data to determine which solution will corrode the regular and sanded nail the most.

Solution Bottle Initial weight Final Final Weight Sanded

Weight of after sanding rust
nail with
rust
Distilled water A 2.31 g 2.31 g 2.30 g 0.01 g
1 2.53 g 2.52 g 2.51 g 0.01 g
Saltwater B 2.47 g 2.48 g 2.46 g 0.02 g
2 2.41 g 2.44 g 2.41 g 0.03 g
Cooking Oil C 2.46 g 2.51 g 2.25 g 0.26 g
3 2.45 g 2.49 g 2.42 g 0.07 g
Clorox D 2.43 g 2.57 g 2.30 g 0.27 g
4 2.40 g 2.52 g 2.30 g 0.22 g
Kalamansi juice E 2.49 g 2.49 g 2.40 g 0.09 g
5 2.47 g 2.45 g 2.40 g 0.05 g
Vinegar F 2.47 g 2.40 g 2.37 g 0.03 g
6 2.44 g 2.39 g 2.36 g 0.03 g
Carbonated G 2.44 g 2.42 g 2.40 g 0.02 g
Drink 7 2.46 g 2.44 g 2.40 g 0.04 g

The bottles were drained of the solutions used to submerge the nails. The nails were
weighed with rust then sanded until no rust was left. The nails were then again weighed. The
weight of the sanded nail and final weight after sanding will then be compared to determine the
amount of rust formed after 6 days.
In bottles A and 1 which were filled with distilled water, nail A retained its weight but with
rust and nail 1 lost 0.01 gram with rust. After sanding, nail A and nail 1 both lost 0.01 gram of rust.
In bottles B and 2 which were filled with saltwater, both rusted nails increased in mass.
After sanding, nail B lost 0.02 grams of rust while nail 2 lost 0.03 grams of rust.
In bottles C and 3 which were filled with water and cooking oil, both rusted nails increased
in mass. After sanding, nail C lost 0.26 g. of rust while nail 3 lost 0.07 g of rust.
In bottles D and 4 which were filled with a solution of water and Clorox, both rusted nails
increased in mass. After sanding, nail D lost 0.27 g of rust while nail 4 lost 0.22 g of rust.
In bottles E and 5 which were filled with pure kalamansi juice, rusted nail E retained its
initial weight while nail 5 lost 0.02g. After sanding, nail E lost 0.09 g of rust while nail 5 lost 0.05
g of rust.
In bottles F and 6 which were filled with vinegar, both rusted nails lost mass. After sanding,
nail F and nail 6 both lost 0.03g of rust.
In bottles G and 7 which were filled with carbonated drink specifically sprite, both rusted
nails lost weight. After sanding, nail G lost 0.02 g of rust while nail 7 lost 0.04 g of rust

All nails rusted after 6 days of being submerged in the water. Comparing the amount of
rust sanded on each case, the most notable cases were in bottles C, D, and 4. These nails were
submerged in water with oil and solution of water and Clorox.
Other significant finding is the nails submerged in vinegar and carbonated water lost
weight even before sanding.
Day 1

Day 4
 Day 6

VI. Conclusion