Work Sheet

Electrolysis
1. A substance Q conducts electricity both when solid and molten. What is Q?
A an alloy
B a hydrocarbon
C a metal oxide
D a salt
2. In the circuit below, the lamp lights up.

What could X be?

[ANS]
A a solution of ethanol in water
B a solution of sodium chloride in water
C liquid ethanol
D solid sodium chloride
3. When the experiment shown was set up, the bulb lit, but there were no decomposition
products at the electrodes.

[ANS]
What is X?
A aqueous sodium chloride
B bromine
C molten sodium chloride
D mercury

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4. Which particles are responsible for conducting electricity in metals and for conducting
electricity in electrolytes?
Metals Electrolytes
A Electrons Electrons
Positive and negative
B Electrons
ions
Positive
C Electrons
ions
Positive
Positive ions and
D ions and
negative ions
electrons

5 Which of the following, when added to water, makes a solution that is a good conductor
of electricity?
A calcium carbonate
B copper
C ethanol
D sodium hydroxide
6 The diagram shows the apparatus used to electrolyze lead(II) bromide using inert
electrodes.

Why does the lamp light up only when the lead(II) bromide is melted?
A Bromine atoms in the lead(II) bromide are converted to ions when it is melted.
B Electrons flow through the lead(II) bromide when it is melted.
C The ions in lead(II) bromide are free to move only when the solid is melted.
D There are no ions in solid lead(II) bromide.

2
7 The experiment shown is used to test potassium bromide crystals.

The lamp does not light. Distilled water is then added to the beaker and the lamp lights.
Which statement explains these results?
[ANS]
A Electrons are free to move in the solution when potassium bromide dissolves.
B Metal ions are free to move when potassium bromide melts.
C Metal ions are free to move when potassium reacts with water.
D Oppositely charged ions are free to move in the solution when potassium bromide
dissolves.
8 What are the products when concentrated aqueous lithium chloride is electrolysed?
[ANS]

9 A solid deposit of element R is formed at the cathode(-ve) when an aqueous solution

containing ions of R is lectrolysed.
Which statement about element R must be correct?
[ANS]
A R forms negative ions.
B R ions gain electrons at the cathode.
C R ions lose electrons at the cathode.
D R is above hydrogen in the reactivity series.

10 A current was passed through concentrated aqueous potassium chloride, KCl, as shown.

3
 Which entry in the table is correct?
[ANS]
ions moving towards
the cathode (-ve) the anode (+ve)
+
A K only Cl – and OH–
B K+ only Cl – only
C K+ and H+ Cl – only
D K+ and H+ Cl – and OH–

11 An electric current is passed through aqueous potassium sulphate, K2SO4.

What is formed at the cathode (negative electrode)?

A Hydrogen
B Oxygen
C Potassium
D Sulphur
12 In which electrolyte would a carbon cathode increase in mass during electrolysis?
A Aqueous copper(II) sulphate
B Concentrated hydrochloric acid
C Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride
D Dilute sulphuric acid

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13 Rubidium, Rb, is in the same group of the Periodic Table as sodium. Which products are
obtained from the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous rubidium chloride?
Cathode Solution
product product
A Hydrogen Acidic
B Hydrogen Alkaline
C Rubidium Acidic
D Rubidium Alkaline
14 What happens when molten lead(II) chloride is electrolyzed?
A Chloride ions gain electrons at the cathode (–ve)
B Chloride ions lose electrons at the anode (+ve)
C Lead(II) ions lose electrons at the cathode (–ve)
D Lead(II) ions move towards the anode (+ve)
15 Which element is liberated at a carbon cathode when aqueous sodium chloride is
electrolyzed?
A Chlorine
B Hydrogen
C Oxygen
D Sodium
16 The diagram shows the electrolysis of a concentrated aqueous solution containing both
copper(II) ions and sodium ions.

Which metal is deposited at the negative electrode and why?

metal reason
deposited
A Copper copper is less reactive than
sodium
B Copper copper is more reactive than
hydrogen
C Sodium copper is less reactive than
hydrogen
D Sodium copper is more reactive than
sodium

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17 Dilute sulphuric acid is electrolysed using inert electrodes. Which equation represents the
reaction at the anode (+ve)?
[ANS]

18 Aqueous copper(II) sulphate is electrolysed using carbon electrodes.

What happens to the electrolyte?
A It becomes more acidic.
B It becomes more alkaline.
C It turns deeper blue.
D It remains unchanged.
19 The circuit shown was set up.

At first, the ammeter showed that no current was flowing. A few drops of dilute sulphuric
acid were dissolved in liquid Z and the ammeter showed that a current was flowing.
What could liquid Z be?
A Aqueous sodium chloride
B Aqueous sodium hydroxide
C Tetrachloromethane
D Water
20 Four electrolytes were electrolyzed using carbon electrodes.
Which set of data is correct?
Product at
Electrolyte
Anode cathode
A CuSO4 Oxygen Copper
B (aq) Chlorine Sodium
21 Chlorine is manufactured commercially by
C NaCl (aq) Sodium Hydrogen the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride (brine).
D NaH (l) Lead Bromine Which other important products are made in
this process?
PbBr2 (aq) A Hydrochloric acid and hydrogen
B Hydrogen and sodium

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 C Hydrogen and sodium hydroxide
D Sodium and sodium hydroxide
22 The diagram shows two electrolysis cells, X and Y.

What are the changes in mass, if any, of the anodes?

Cell X Cell Y
A Decrease Decrease
B Decrease Increase
C Increase No
D No change
change decrease

23 The diagram shows the results of an electrolysis experiment using inert electrodes.

Which of the following could be liquid X?

A Aqueous copper(II) sulphate
B Concentrated hydrochloric acid
C Dilute sulphuric acid
D Ethanol

24 In which line in the table is all the information correct?

reaction at Electrode product
electrode
A 2X– . → X2 + 2e– Cathode metal
+ –
B X + e → X Anode Metal
– –
C 2X → X2 + 2e Anode non-

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 metal
+ –
D X +e →X Cathode non-
metal

25 Apparatus is set up as shown in the diagram.

What occurs at electrode X?

E Chloride ions are oxidised.
F Chloride ions are reduced.
G Nickel ions are oxidised.
H Nickel is deposited.
26 Which reactions take place during the electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulphate with
copper electrodes?

27 The diagram shows the electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulphate using copper electrodes.

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 Which graph shows how the mass of the cathode changes during electrolysis?

28 The heat-reflecting shields of some space rockets are gold-plated, using electrolysis.
Which electrodes and electrolyte would be used to gold-plate the heat shield?

negative electrode positive electrode electrolyte

A Carbon heat shield gold compound
B gold heat shield copper compound
C heat shield carbon copper compound
D heat shield gold gold compound
29 A piece of metal is to be electroplated.
Which set of conditions give the thickest plate?

30 Apparatus was set up as shown. For which pair of metals would electrons flow in the
direction shown?

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31 Electrical energy is produced by a simple cell as a result of
A The formation of covalent bonds between atoms
B The formation of negative ions from atoms
C The positive and negative ions coming together
D The transfer of electrons from a more reactive to a less reactive element

32 The diagram shows a simple cell in which metals X and Y are the electrodes.

Which pair of metals would be expected to produce the highest voltage?

X Y
A Cu Ag
B Mg Ag
C Mg Zn
D Zn Fe

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 Theory(paper2)
A1. Electrolysis is the decomposition of a liquid by the passage of an electrical current.
[ANS]
(a) Aqueous copper(II) sulphate contains the following ions, Cu2+, H+, OH– and SO42–.
Aqueous copper(II) sulphate can be electrolysed using inert electrodes.
The electrode reactions are represented below.
cathode Cu2+ + 2e– → Cu
anode 4OH– → O2 + 2H2O + 4e–
(i) Explain why copper, not hydrogen, is formed at the cathode
………………………………………............................................................
........................................................................................................................
.................................................................................
(ii) Explain why the formation of oxygen at the anode is an example of
oxidation
………………………………………............................................................
........................................................................................................................
....................................................................................
(iii) The electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulphate using copper electrodes
has a different anode reaction.
Give the equation for the electrode reaction at the anode
......................................................................................................[3]
(b) Molten lead(II) bromide decomposes when an electric current is passed through it.
(i) Explain why solid lead(II) bromide will not conduct electricity but molten
lead(II) bromide will
………………………....................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
...................................................................
(ii) Construct the equations for the two electrode reactions.
cathode ............................................................................................
anode ...........................................................................................[4]

A1 a. A student tried to pass an electric current through some solids and liquids. The six
experiments are represented by the diagrams below.

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 i) In which experiments will the bulb light?
………………………………………………………………………………..
[2]
ii) Give the name of an electrolyte shown in the diagram.
………………………………………………………………………………..
[1]
iii) In which experiment will oxygen be produced?
…………………………………………………………………………………
[1]

(b) The following diagram represents the electrolysis of molten substance, X.

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 i) Label the anode and cathode on the diagram.
ii) Suggest the name of substance X.
………………………………………………………………………………….
iii) State the formula of the cation in X.
………………………………………………………………………………….
iv) Explain why substance X conducts electricity when molten but not when solid.
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
[5]
B9. A student carried out an electrolysis of dilute sulphuric acid and collected the gases formed.
(a) Draw a labelled diagram to show the apparatus used.
[2]
(b) (i) Give the formulae of all the ions present in the solution.
(ii) Write half equations for the reactions at the anode and cathode. Use the half
equations to construct an overall equation for the reaction and give tests for any
gases evolved.
(iii) Use your equations to explain how the composition of the solution changes after
the electrolysis has been running for some time.
[6]
(c) Describe another method for making hydrogen from dilute sulphuric acid. Your answer
should include names of the reagents you use and an equation for the reaction.
[2]
[Total: 10 marks]
(a)
ced during the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride.
(i) Chlorine ................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
A2. Hydrogen ............................................................................................................................
Chlorine, hydrogen and sodium hydroxide are made by the electrolysis of concentrated
aqueous sodium chloride.
(a) Aqueous sodium chloride contains the following ions,

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 Na+, H+, OH– and Cl–.
Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride can be electrolysed using inert electrodes.
The electrode reactions are represented below.
cathode
2H+ + 2e– → H2
anode
2Cl– → Cl2 + 2e–
[ANS]
(i) Explain why hydrogen, not sodium, is formed at the cathode
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
.........
(ii) Suggest why, as the electrolysis proceeds, the concentration of sodium
hydroxide in the electrolyte increases
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
.........[2]
(iii) Describe a chemical test for each of the gases
produ..................................................................................................[2]
(b) Describe the use of chlorine in the purification of
water ..............................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................[1]
(c) Describe an advantage of using hydrogen as a possible fuel in the
future ..............................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................[1]
(d) Name the products, if any, of the reaction of chlorine with
(i) aqueous potassium fluoride,
.................................................................................................................
(ii) aqueous sodium bromide
............................................................................................................[2]

A2. Aqueous copper(II) sulphate is electrolyzed using carbon electrodes.

(a) Give the formulae of all the ions present in the solution.
[2]
(b) A copper coating forms on the cathode, and a gas is evolved at the anode.

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 i) Write a half equation for the formation of copper at the cathode.

ii) Name the gas formed at the anode and describe a test for this gas.
[3]
(c) After some time, the blue colour of the aqueous copper(II) sulphate fades and the pH
of the solution decreases.
Explain why these changes take place.
[2]
(d) A student investigated the relationship between the mass of copper formed and the
total charge passed through the solution.
This is a graph of the results.

i) What mass of copper is formed when a charge of 600 coulombs is passed

through the solution?
ii) Use your graph to predict the charge needed to form 1 g of copper, and hence
predict the charge needed to deposit 1 mole of copper.
[3]
[Total : 10]

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B8 The diagram represents an experiment in which an electric current is being passed
through dilute sulphuric acid.

(a) Give the formulae of all the ions present in this solution.
Construct an ionic equation for the reaction at each electrode.
Describe the test for oxygen.
[5]
(b) Dilute sulphuric acid can be used to remove rust, iron(III) oxide, from iron in a
process known as ‘pickling’.
Write the equation for the reaction between iron(III) oxide and sulphuric acid.
Calculate the mass of rust which can be removed by reaction with 49 g sulphuric
acid.
[4]
(c) State one product manufactured from sulphuric acid.
[1]
B6. Electroplating can be used to coat nickel with a thin coating of silver.
[ANS]
(a) Draw a labelled diagram of an apparatus that can be used to electroplate silver
onto nickel.
[3]
(b) Write equations, with state symbols, for the reactions at the anode and cathode.
[2]
(c) Solutions of two salts, A and B, were electrolysed using carbon electrodes. The
following products were collected.

Salt Products
A Oxygen and hydrogen
B Chlorine and hydrogen

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 (i) Suggest the names of the two salts, A and B.
(ii) Describe tests to confirm the identities of the three gases collected.
[5]
[Total: 10 marks]

A4. (a) Write an ionic equation for the reaction between zinc and aqueous copper(II)
sulphate.
[1]

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 [ANS]
This reaction
can be used to generate
electricity in a cell.
(b) Drawn an arrow
on the diagram
to show the
direction of the
flow of
electrons in the
wire.
[1]
(c) The voltage of the cell was measured when the following metals were used as
electrode 2.
copper iron lead zinc
Complete the table by entering the metals in the correct order.
[2]

Meter reading / V Metal

1.10
0.78
0.21
0.0

(d) When metal M was used as electrode 2, it produced a higher voltage than zinc.
Suggest a name for metal M.

[1]

B9 One of the first buses to use hydrogen as a fuel was operated in Erlangen, Germany, in
1996. The hydrogen was stored in thick pressurised tanks on the roof of the bus.
(a) Describe two advantages of using hydrogen as a fuel rather than petrol. [2]
(b) Suggest one disadvantage of using hydrogen as a fuel. [1]
(c) Some buses use hydrogen to generate electrical energy from a fuel cell.
The structure of a typical fuel cell is shown.

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19
 ATP
4. A constant current was passed through aqueous copper(II) sulphate using inert electrodes
as shown in the diagram below. Copper was deposited at one of the electrodes.

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(a) Name a suitable material for the inert electrodes. ........................ [1]
(b) At which electrode was copper deposited, D or E? ........................ [1]
(c) What was seen at the other electrode?
......................................................................................................................[1]
The electrode at which copper was deposited was removed at intervals, washed,
dried and weighed. The results are shown in the table below.

Time / min Mass of Total increase

cathode / g in mass / g
0 7.55 0
10 8.00 0.45
20 8.45 0.90
30 8.90
40 9.35
50 9.80
60 9.80

(d) (i) Complete the table by calculating the total increase in mass after each 10 minute
interval. [2]
(ii) Plot a graph of the data given in the table. [3]

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 (iii) How long did it take for 1.60 g of copper to be deposited?
...................... minutes [1]
(iv) Suggest why the last two readings were the same.
......................................................................................................................[1]
(e) What was the colour of the electrolyte
i) at the start of the experiment,
.................................................................................................................
ii) at the end of the experiment?
.............................................................................................................[2]
The experiment was repeated with aqueous copper sulphate of the same
concentration as before, but this time using copper electrodes. The same
current was passed for the same length of time.

(f) Draw a line on your graph, labeled M, to show the result you would expect for this
second experiment. [1]
(g) What was the colour of the electrolyte at the end of the experiment?
......................................................................................................................[1]

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2 A student electrolysed lead bromide and aqueous sodium chloride in the apparatus shown
below. Each of the electrodes is labeled with a letter.

[ANS]
(a) Why was it necessary for lead bromide to be molten?
.................................................................................................................[1]
(b) (i) What was produced at electrode A?
..........................................................................................................
(ii) What was the appearance of this product?
..........................................................................................................
(iii) What was produced at electrode B?
..........................................................................................................
(iv) Where did this product collect?
......................................................................................................[4]
(c) Gases were produced at electrodes C and D. In each case name the gas and give a
test to confirm its presence.
(i) the gas produced at C .....................................................................
test for this gas ….............................................................................
(ii) gas produced at D ...........................................................................
test for this gas ............................................................................[4]
(d) What change should be made so that sodium is produced at one of the electrodes?
.................................................................................................................[1]

2. A student electrolyzed aqueous copper(II) sulphate, using carbon electrodes. The apparatus
is shown below:
3. Aqueous copper(II) sulphate was electrolysed using copper electrodes. The current was
constant and the cathode was weighed at regular intervals.

23
Which graph was obtained when the mass of the cathode was plotted against time?

After a few minutes, a pink solid is deposited on one electrode and a gas is evolved at the
other electrode.
(a) (i) At which electrode, A or B, is the pink solid deposited?
………………………………………………………………………………..
(ii) Name this pink solid.
………………………………………………………………………………..
(iii) Name the gas evolved at the other electrode.
………………………………………………………………………………..
(iv) Give a test for this gas.
Test …………………………………………………………………………
Result ………………………………………………………………………
[4]
How does the color of the electrolyte change during the electrolysis?
(b) (i) from ……………………………. to ……………………………………..

24
 (ii) Why does the change take place.
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
[3]
Eventually, no more of the pink solid is formed. Instead a gas is given off from the
electrode.
(c) (i) Name this gas.
…………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) Give a test for this gas.
Test …………………………………………………………………………...
Result …………………………………………………………………………
[2]
2 In which of the following cells will the current be the greatest?

1. A student used magnesium oxide to prepare magnesium nitrate.

The magnesium nitrate was then heated to re-form magnesium oxide.

The object of the experiment was to determine whether the mass of magnesium oxide
produced was the same as the amount used initially.

Some magnesium oxide was put into a weighed evaporating dish. The dish was reweighed.

Mass of dish + magnesium oxide = 14.70 g

Mass of dish = 8.90 g

(a) Calculate the mass of magnesium oxide used.

25
The mass of magnesium oxide = .................... g [1]

(b) An acid was slowly added until all the magnesium oxide had dissolved. Magnesium
nitrate was produced.
Name the acid

.....................................................................................................................[1]

(c) The solution was evaporated to dryness and the resulting solid was heated in a fume
cupboard. The following reaction took place.

2Mg(NO3)2(s) → 2MgO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)

After cooling, the dish was weighed. It was then heated again, cooled and reweighed.

The final mass of the dish and contents was 14.40 g.

i) Why was the heating done in a fume cupboard?

.............................................................................................................[1]

ii) Why was the dish reweighed?

.............................................................................................................[1]

iii) Calculate the mass of magnesium oxide obtained.

......................................................................................................... g [1]

(d) Using your answers to (a) and (c)(iii) calculate the percentage yield of magnesium
oxide.

..................................................................................................................% [1]

(e) Suggest one reason why the experiment did not produce the same amount of
magnesium oxide as was used at the beginning of the experiment

......................................................................................................................[1]

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Q. A metal cup can be coated in silver by electrolysis. The cup must be very clean and also
rotated during the process, which is known as electroplating

June 2005
2. The apparatus below was used to electrolyse water.

27
(b) State how the volume of gas collected in tube X compares with the volume of gas
collected in tube Y.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) Name a gas that may be used to sterilise water and give a test for this gas.
gas ...................................................................................................................................
test .............................................................................................................................. [2]
(d) A student added a small piece of sodium and a small piece of iron to separate samples
of water. What observations were made?

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sodium ..............................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
iron ...................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [3]
j.2007

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