ELECTROCHEMISTRY – ELECTROLYSIS LAB

Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to use the virtual apparatus to help us learn about electrolysis and
answer the question on how electrical energy can be absorbed in a chemical reaction. With the
virtual electrolysis lab setup, follow each step carefully, and answer the questions along the way
to better help answer the main question.
Introduction
Electrolysis is electrical current flow through a liquid which causes chemical changes. Not all
liquids can be conductors as it can be a molten ionic compound or a aqueous solution. Overall, it
must be able to carry a current. For example, table salt or sodium chloride that is heated to over
801 degrees Celsius will melt. The liquid will contain free flowing positive sodium ions and
negative chlorine ion, which means that chlorine and sodium ions are free to move within the
liquid sodium chloride. REMEMBER that positive ions are cations and negative ions are
anions. Now, consider putting two electrical conductors into the liquid (copper would suffice as
it has a higher melting point). Nothing happens when the conductors are in the water, but when
they are connected to an electrical power supply or cell, everyone is on the right track to
electrolysis. In this virtual lab, everyone is experimenting with Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) and
Zn(NO3)2 (Zinc Nitrate). Utilize the virtual apparatus given and answer the given questions on
the worksheet and upload your response to the lab report.
Materials
Since this lab is 100% virtual and no physical lab equipment is needed the only thing needed is:
 Laptop/Computer
 Worksheet
 Electrolysis virtual experiment link
Procedures
The first thing is to open up the link in the lab folder that states inquiries and login/sign up on
that page. The next thing is to locate the link for Electrochemistry: Electrolysis near the middle
of the page. One of the links will provide the virtual simulation and the other will provide the
worksheet that corresponds to the simulation. When starting the lab, make sure that the database

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 is correct, and no faults are within the system. On the simulation tab, click on the left and right
pop up menu tabs for the metals and click silver for each. Next, select on the solutions pop-out
tab and select Silver Nitrate or AgNO3 (aq) as stated. Specify the voltage of 0.20 volts and a
current of 0.50 amps. Set time for the power source at five minutes and zero seconds, and then
record the starting conditions in the following table on the worksheet. Click the on/off switch to
begin the record -- as you do so record the observation as the reaction proceeds. When time has
elapsed, record the final conditions in the table. Following the first experiment, it is now time to
conduct a new trial. Select new trial and repeat the reaction with the conditions specified for the
remaining trials in the previous table and record the data. Zinc Nitrate or Zn(NO3)2 (aq) should
now be replaced with Silver Nitrate and be the new addition in the solution. Using the same
procedures as before, collect data for electrolysis of Zn in Zn(NO3)2 (aq) solution. Make sure to
use the conditions specified in the following table and record the data. Now it is the conclusion
of the simulation. Use the data in the table and the knowledge of oneself to answer the following
questions below.

Data/Calculations
Trial Mass Ag Mass Ag Mass Ag Mass Ag Voltage Current Time
(left) (left) (right) (right) (E) (amps)
Before After Before After
1 10 g 9.83 g 10 g 10.17 g 0.20 v 0.50 amps 300 sec
2 10 g 9.66 g 10 g 10.34 g 0.20 v 0.50 amps 600 sec
3 10 g 9.66 g 10 g 10.34 g 0.20 v 1.00 amps 300 sec
4 10 g 9.83 g 10 g 10.17 g 0.40 v 0.50 amps 300 sec
5 10 g 8.99 g 10 g 11.01 g 0.20 v 1.50 amps 600 sec

As the on/off was pressed, a lot has happened within the five minutes of trial one. The mass of
one of the silver conductors lessened from 10 g to about 9.83 g and the other one gained mass as
it went from 10 g to about 10.17 g. The same trend kind of kept occurring, but with an increase
and decrease of voltage and amps, some of the masses were the came out as the same when
comparing previous trials.
Trial Mass Zn Mass Zn Mass Zn Mass Zn Voltage Current Time
(left) (left) (right) (right) (E) (amps)
Before After Before After
6 10 g 9.95 g 10 g 10.05 g 0.20 v 0.50 amps 300 sec

In this part of the experiment, the same happened with the mass of the two as with the first round
of trials with Silver Nitrate. One of the masses decreased and the other mass increased.

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 After Lab Questions
A. Define current.
A current is a flow of electrical charge carriers, usually electrons or electron-deficient atoms. It is
considered that currents flow from relatively positive points to a relatively negative point
(conventional/Franklin current).
B. Write a balanced equation for the half reaction that occurs at the Ag (right)
electrode in section I. B. How many electrons are transferred in the reaction per
Ag+?
Ag+ (aq) + e- → Ag (s); There about +0.80 electrons transferred in the reaction per Ag+.

C. Write a balanced equation for the half reaction that occurs at the Zn (right)
electrode in section I. C. How many electrons are transferred in the reaction per
Zn2+?
Zn2+ (aq) + 2e- → Zn (s); There are about -0.76 electrons transferred in the reaction per Zn2+.

D. Compare the amount (moles) of Ag plated out on the right electrode in trial 1 of
section I. B. with the amount (moles) of Zn plated out on the right electrode in
section I. D. How do you account for this relationship?
When comparing the number of moles in sections B and D, it is evident that there are some
similarities within the moles that was put in the table. It was clear that the numbers given were
almost the same and the relationship can be accounted for by the experiment that was conducted.
E. Using the data from sections I. B. C. and D., what factors control the moles of
substance that is produced in these reactions? Write proportionality expressions
that indicate how each of these factors is related to the amount.
The factor that control the moles of substance that in produced with the reaction is the voltage
(E) and currents (amps). The proportionality expression would be moles = amps; moles = E

F. Combine the factors you identified in the previous section into a single
proportionality expression. Calculate the proportionality constant (call the Faraday)
for the expression. What are the units for this constant?
Moles = amps/E = 10.17 x 0.20 = 2.03 mol (this would be the units)
Moles = amps/E = 10.05 x 0.20 = 2.01 mol (this would be the units)

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 Conclusion
In conclusion, electrolysis was learned on todays lab and has greatly informed everyone about
half reactions, producing proportionality expressions, and especially learning about
electrochemistry in the virtual simulation. A lot was learned about currents and electrons charges
while conducting the experiment. For the main focus question about how electrical energy is
absorbed in a chemical reaction, it is now easy to understand that currents are the main factor of
this, and it aids in releasing positive and negative charges into the solution. Overall, this lab has
taught so much that it has made it easy to understand new topics. Mishaps have occurred in the
aftermath of the lab (into the lab questions), but all was understood in the end.

References
Rouse, M. (2007, August 16). Current. WhatIs.Com.
https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/current#:%7E:text=Current%20is%20a%20flow
%20of,electrons%20or%20electron%2Ddeficient%20atoms.&text=Physicists%20consider
%20current%20to%20flow,charge%20carriers%2C%20are%20negatively%20charged.
http://introchem.chem.okstate.edu/DCICLA/Electrolysis.pdf

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