Chapter 4 Electrolysis

Test 4
Section A (20 marks)
1. Which of the following statements about galvanic cells and electrolysis cells is incorrect?
In both galvanic cells and electrolysis cells
A. anions in the electrolyte flow to the anode
B. reduction occurs at the cathode
C. chemical energy is transformed into electrical energy
D. electrons move from the anode to the cathode

Questions 2 , 3 and 4 refer to the diagram below

e e

silver copper

CuSO 4(aq) (aq)

2. The electrode acting as the cathode along with its polarity would be
A. silver, positive
B. silver, negative
C. copper, positive
D. copper, negative
3. The reaction occurring at the anode would be
A. Cu2+(aq) + 2e  Cu(s)
B. Ag(s)  Ag+(aq) + e
C. 2H2O(l) + 2e  H2(g) + 2OH-(aq)
D. SO42- + 4H+(aq) + 2e  SO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

4. The flow of ions in the CuSO4(aq) electrolyte would be

A. Cu2+ ions to the silver electrode and SO42- to the copper electrode
B. Cu2+ ions to the copper electrode and SO42- ions to the silver electrode
C. Cu2+ ions and SO42- to both electrodes
D. no ions flow in this electrolysis experiment

5. The products of the electrolysis of aqueous lead nitrate using inert electrodes would be
A. lead, oxygen gas and hydrogen ions
B. lead, hydrogen gas and hydroxide ions
C. lead, nitrogen gas and water
D. hydrogen gas and oxygen gas

6. The product(s) formed at the anode during the electrolysis of a concentrated sodium chloride
solution (a brine solution) would be
A. O2 and H+
B. Cl2
C. H2 and OH-
D. Na

7. A steady current was passed for a fixed time through the three cells below. Each cell contains a
0.10M aqueous solution and Pt electrodes.
e e
A

e e

CuSO 4(aq) AgNO3(aq) AlCl 3(aq)

The mole ratio n(Cu) : n(Ag) : n(Al) of metal formed at the cathode in each cell would be
A. 3 : 6 : 2
B. 2 : 1 : 3
C. 2 : 1 : 0
D. 1 : 2 : 0
8. Aqueous solutions of AgNO3, Cu(NO3)2, Cr(NO3)3 and Sn(NO3)4 were electrolysed so that the metal
ions were converted to the corresponding metals. The amount in mole of metal (M) deposited was
plotted on a graph (see below) as a function of the amount in mole of electrons passing through the
circuit.
a b c

n(M)

<label axis as 1,2,3, 4 > e

1 2 3 4 n(e)
The lines representing silver, copper, chromium and tin formation respectively are
A. a, b, c, d
B. c, d, e, f
C. f, e, d, c
D. b, c, d, e

9. Which of the following groups of substances can only be produced by electrolysis of a solution of a
molten salt?
A. Cu, Al, Fe and Mg
B. Zn, Au, Ag and Cu
C. Li, Ca, Mg and Ni
D. Al, Na, K and Ca

10. In nickel-metal hydride rechargeable cells a hydrogen absorbing material is used as the anode.
The half-cell equations for the discharge process are as follows
NiO(OH) + H 2O + e  Ni(OH)2 + OH-
MH + OH -  M + H2O + e (where M refers to a metal)
When recharging, which of the following statements about a nickel-metal hydride cell would be
correct?
A. oxidation occurs at the anode which has negative polarity
B. oxidation occurs at the anode which has positive polarity
C. reduction occurs at the anode which has negative polarity
D. reduction occurs at the anode which has positive polarity
Section B (30 marks)
1. A student investigated the electrolysis of a potassium nitrate solution using the apparatus shown
below
+ -
e e

<make the solution colourless, not blue >

< add the word carbon above the word electrodes> <replace KI(aq) with KNO 3(aq) >
cotton wool barrier
(add this label)
(a) On the diagram above clearly label
(i) the anode and its polarity
(ii) the cathode and its polarity
(b)Write balanced half equations for the reactions occurring at the
(i) anode
(ii) cathode
(c) Write the equation for the overall reaction.
(d) Universal Indicator can be used to indicate the pH of a solution. Using the colour chart provided
below indicate the colour you would expect to observe at the
(i) anode
(ii) cathode
pink yellow green blue violet
pH = 3 pH = 5 pH =7 pH = 9 pH = 11
(e) If the cotton wool barrier was removed and the electrolyte solution was allowed to completely
mix what colour would you expect the solution to be? Explain your answer.
[2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 9 marks]
2. The diagram below represents an experimental arrangement for the electrolysis of
200 mL of a 1.00M CuSO4(aq) solution.

platinum anode platinum cathode

+ -

1.00M CuSO 4(aq)

The reactions occurring at the anode and cathode are

anode : 2H2O(l)  O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e
cathode : Cu2+(aq) + 2e  Cu(s)

(a) Write an equation for the overall reaction

(b) Determine the minimum voltage that would be needed for this electrolysis cell to function.
(c) When a current of 2.50 amperes was passed through the cell for 2.00 hours
(i) determine the mass of copper deposited on the cathode
(ii) the volume of O2 at SLC evolved at the anode
(d) Assuming that the volume of solution remains constant at 200mL, determine the concentration
of the copper sulphate solution at the end of the 2.00 hours.
[1 + 1 + 4 + 2 + 3 = 11 marks]

3. A metal salt, MClx, was electrolysed using a current of 0.375 A for 30.0 minutes. If 0.175 g of the
unknown metal, M, was deposited at the cathode, determine the charge on the metal ion. The
molar mass of M = 50.0 gmol-1.
[3 marks]
4(a) A lead acid accumulator is a secondary cell. When a lead – acid battery is discharging, the
overall reaction is

Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + 2SO42-(aq)  2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

When the lead acid accumulator is recharging (circle the correct response)

(i) the pH of the electrolyte is increasing / decreasing

(ii) the mass of the cathode is increasing / decreasing
(iii) the oxidation number at the anode is increasing / decreasing
(iv) the reactant at the cathode is undergoing reduction/oxidation

(b) Complete the following table to state the polarities ( + or − ) of the electrodes in a lead-acid
battery when the battery is discharging and recharging

electrode discharging recharging

Pb(s)

PbO2(s)

(c) Describe the energy transformation that occurs during the recharging of a lead-acid battery.

[4 + 2 + 1 = 7 marks]
Solutions for test 4
Section A (2 x 10 = 20 marks)
1. C
2. D
3. B
4. B
5. A
6. B
7. D
8. B
9. D
10. B

Section B (30 marks) [marks are denoted by square brackets]

1. + -
e e

[1] anode (+) <make the solution colourless, not blue > cathode (-) [1]

< add the word carbon above the word electrodes> <replace KI(aq) with KNO 3(aq) >
cotton wool barrier
(add this label)
(b) Anode: 2H2O(l)  O2(g) + 4H (aq) + 4e [1]
+

Cathode: 2H2O(l) + 2e  H2(g) + 2OH-(aq) [1]

(c) 4H2O(l) + 4e + 2H2O(l)  2H2(g) + 4OH-(aq) + O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e
Given that 4OH-(aq) + 4H+(aq) = 4H2O(l)
4H2O(l) + 2H2O(l)  2H2(g) + O2(g) + 4H2O(l)
The overall reaction is 2H2O(l)  2H2(g) + O2(g) [1] for the “working”
+
(d)(i) anode: pink (caused by the acidic solution - H (aq)) [1]
(ii) cathode: violet (caused by the basic solution - 4OH -(aq)) [1]
(e) The solution would be green. [1]
As can be seen in part (c) where the overall equation is 2H 2O(l)  2H2(g) + O2(g), the H+ and OH-
ions react to form H2O. That is the H+ and OH- ions combine to form a neutral solution [1]

2(a) 2H2O(l) + 2Cu2+(aq)  O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 2Cu(s) [1]

(b) 2H2O(l)  O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e Eo = - 1.23 V

Cu2+(aq) + 2e  Cu(s) E o = + 0.34 V
2H2O(l) + 2Cu2+(aq)  O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 2Cu(s) EOcell = - 1.23 + 0.43 = - 0.89 V
A minimum voltage of 0.89 V would be required. [1]

(c) Q = I x t = 2.50 x 2.00 x 60 x 60 = 1.80 x 10 4 coulomb (C) [1]

n(e) = Q / 96500 = 1.80 x 104 / 96500 = 0.187 mole [1]
n(Cu) = ½ x n(e) = ½ x 0.187 = 0.0933 [1]
m(Cu) = n x M = 0.0953 x 63.5 = 5.92 g [1]

(ii) n(O2) = ¼ x n(e) = ¼ x 0.187 = 0.0466 [1]

V(O2) = n x Vm = 0.0466 x 24.8 = 1.16 L [1]

(d) At the beginning n(Cu2+) = n(CuSO4) = c x V = 1.00 x 0.200 = 0.200 mole

n(Cu2+) consumed in the reaction = n(Cu) formed = 0.0933 [1]
Therefore n(Cu2+) present at the end of the experiment = 0.200 – 0.0933 = 0.107 mole [1]
c(CuSO4) = n / V = 0.107 / 0.200 = 0.0534 M (assuming V(H 2O) remains at 200 mL) [1]

3. Q = I x t = 0.375 x 30.0 x 60 = 675 C

n(e) = Q / 96500 = 675 / 96500 = 0.0699 [1]
n(M) = m / M = 0.175 / 50.0 = 0.00350 [1]
The equation for the deposition of the metal(M) is M X+ + xe  M
The value of x = n(e) / n(M) = 0.0699 / 0.00350 = 2
Therefore the charge on the ion is +2 [1] for the working

4(a)(i) decreasing
(ii) decreasing
(iii) increasing
(iv) reduction [4 x 1]

(b)
electrode discharging recharging

Pb(s) _ _

PbO2(s) + +

[4 x ½ ]
(c) Electrical energy to chemical energy