Spec. 5.4.3.1 – 5.4.3.

2 Sunday 19 May 2024

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTROLYSIS

Do Now: How many words can you make out of the letters
in…

Electrolysis

Too easy? … only make science words!

 PROGRESS INDICATORS

Good progress Outstanding progress

Grade 1-3 Define electrolysis. Describe electrolysis in
terms of movement of ions.
Grade 4-6 Write a word equation to Write a balanced symbol
describe the electrolysis of a equation including state
molten ionic compound. symbols for the overall
electrolysis of a molten ionic
compound.

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 Sunday 19 May 2024

ACTIVITY 1: DEFINE ELECTROLYSIS

Complete the code breaker to find out the definition of electrolysis.

A B C D E F G H I J
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
K L M N O P Q R S T
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
U V W X Y Z Code breaker key
21 22 23 24 25 26
 Sunday 19 May 2024

ACTIVITY 1: DEFINE ELECTROLYSIS

Answer: Where ionic substances are

broken down into simpler substances using
electricity.
AC TIVITY 2 : DESC R IB E ELEC TR OLYSIS IN TERMS OF
MOVEMENT OF IONS.

Watch the video clip and then record as many facts as you can remember about
electrolysis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhTRiL6xjBA

An ionic solid
CHALLENGE
can’t be
electrolysed
Why can’t
because thean
ions
ionic
are in solid
fixed
conduct and
positions
electricity?
can’t move.

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WORD CONSCIOUSNESS

Electrolysis – Where an ionic substance is broken down into smaller

substances using electricity
Electrode - A conductor that allows the flow of electricity into the
electrolyte. Usually made out of graphite.
Anode - The positive electrode.
Cathode - The negative electrode.
Anion - The negative ion it moves to the anode during electrolysis.
Cation - The positive ion it moves to the cathode during electrolysis.

Electrolyte - The molten (melted) or aqueous (dissolved in water)

ionic substance that is being electrolysed.
 ACTIVITY 3: DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF
ELECTROLYSIS IN TERMS OF MOVEMENT OF IONS

Rearrange these statements into an order that describe the process of

electrolysis.

Ions are discharged at the electrodes to produce elements

Electrodes are placed into the electrolyte and connected to a power pack. One will be
positively charged, the anode, and the other will be negatively charged, the cathode.

A ionic substance is melted or dissolved in water to enable the ions to move freely within
the solution. This solution is called the electrolyte.

When an electric current is passed through the electrolyte the ions move. The negative
ions, cations, in the electrolyte will move to the cathode and the positively charged ions,
anions, will move to the anode.

Sunday 19 May 2024

 ACTIVITY 3: DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF
ELECTROLYSIS IN TERMS OF MOVEMENT OF IONS

Rearrange these statements into an order that describe the process of

electrolysis.
A ionic substance is melted or dissolved in water to enable the ions to move freely within
the solution. This solution is called the electrolyte.

Electrodes are placed into the electrolyte and connected to a power pack. One will be
positively charged, the anode, and the other will be negatively charged, the cathode.

When an electric current is passed through the electrolyte the ions move. The negative
ions, cations, in the electrolyte will move to the cathode and the positively charged ions,
anions, will move to the anode.

Ions are discharged at the electrodes to produce elements

SA Self assess in red pens please!

Sunday 19 May 2024
 Sunday 19 May 2024

HINT: REMEMBER
ACTIVITY ALLEQUATION
4: WRITE A WORD METALSTO DESCRIBE
PRODUCE A POSITIVE
THE ELECTROLYSIS ION IONIC COMPOUND.
OF A MOLTEN

Complete the table.

Product at the Product at the
Compound
cathode anode
lead bromide
lead bromine

zinc chloride chlorine

zinc
sodium chloride chlorine
sodium
aluminium oxide oxygen
aluminium

CHALLENGE: Can you write the chemical formula for each

element or compound in the table above.
 Sunday 19 May 2024

ACTIVITY 4 ANSWERS

Product at the Product at the

Compound
cathode anode
lead bromide
lead (Pb) bromine (Br)
(PbBr)
zinc chloride (ZnCl2) zinc (Zn) chlorine (Cl2)
sodium chloride Chlorine (Cl2)
sodium (Na)
(NaCl)
aluminium oxide
Aluminium (Al) Oxygen (O2)
(Al2O3)

SA Self assess in red pens please!

 Sunday 19 May 2024

ACTIVITY 5: WRITE A BALANCED SYMBOL EQUATION

INCLUDING STATE SYMBOLS FOR THE OVERALL
ELECTROLYSIS OF A MOLTEN IONIC COMPOUND.

Use the table to write the word equations for the electrolysis of
zinc chloride, sodium chloride and aluminium oxide.

Worked example:

Lead bromide  lead + bromine

Balanced symbol equation: PbBr2 (l)  Pb (s) + Br2 (g)

CHALLENGE: Write balanced symbol equations for the three

compounds.
 ACTIVITY 5 ANSWERS

1. Zinc chloride  zinc + chlorine

ZnCl2 (l)  Zn (s) + Cl2 (g)

2. Sodium chloride  Sodium + chlorine

2NaCl (l)  2Na (s) + Cl2 (g)

3. Aluminium oxide  aluminium + oxygen

2Al2O3 (l)  4Al (s) + 3O2 (g)

SA Self assess in red pens please! Sunday 19 May 2024

 PLENARY

Fill in the gaps.

When an ionic compound is melted or dissolved in water, the ions
are free to move about within the liquid or solution. These liquids
and solutions are able to conduct electricity and are called
electrolytes. Passing an electric current through electrolytes causes
the ions to move to the electrodes. Positively charged ions move to
the negative electrode (the cathode), and negatively charged ions
move to the positive electrode (the anode). Ions are discharged at the
electrodes.
Missing words:
current electrolytes ionic negative
melted positive dissolved
move electricity
Sunday 19 May 2024
 LET’S BREAK IT DOWN

• Materials:
• 1 6-Volt lantern battery
• 2 small strips of aluminum foil
• Small plastic container (with a center divider)
• 2 small alligator clips (3.5cm)
• 2 test tubes
• 200ml beaker
• Stirring rod
• Match
• Tap water
• 1 tbps. Sodium chloride

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• In an electrolytic cell, an external source of electricity (such as a battery) is used to
drive electron flow from the anode, where oxidation occurs, to the cathode, where
reduction occurs. An external source of electrical energy is needed because the reaction
that occurs in electrolytic cells is non-spontaneous.
• An electrode by definition is a point where current enters and leaves the electrolyte.
When the current leaves the electrodes it is known as the cathode and when the current
enters it is known as the anode. (In this activity- Aluminum)
• The primary use of alligator clips is to establish temporary electrical connections
when clipped onto terminals and components. They get their name from the
resemblance of their jaws to alligator or crocodile teeth / jaws.
• A test tube, also known as a culture tube or sample tube, is a common piece of
laboratory glassware consisting of a finger-like length of glass or clear plastic tubing,
open at the top and closed at the bottom.
• In laboratory equipment, a beaker is generally a cylindrical container with a flat bottom.
Most also have a small spout (or "beak") to aid pouring, as shown in the picture. Beakers
are available in a wide range of sizes, from one milliliter up to several liters. A beaker is
distinguished from a flask by having straight rather than sloping sides. The exception to
this definition is a slightly conical-sided beaker called a Philips beaker. The beaker shape
in general drinkware is similar.
• Electrolytes are chemicals that conduct electricity when dissolved in water.
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 PROCEDURE

* A. PREPARATION OF THE SOLUTION

1. POUR A CUP OF WATER IN THE 200ml BEAKER
2. THEN ADD ONE TABLESPOONFUL OF SODIUM CHLORIDE

* B. PREPARATION OF THE SETUP

1. PREPARE A BASIC ELECTROLYSIS SET-UP. USE THE LANTERN BATTERY, 2
SMALL ALLIGATOR CLIPS, ALUMINUM FOIL/STRIPS (ELECTRODES), AND
SODIUM CHLORIDE (WATER SOLUTION)
2. SUMBERGE THE TEST TUBES INTO THE WATER COMPLETELY. THEN SLIDE
THE ELECTRODES (ALUMINUM FOIL) INTO THE TEST TUBES.
* C. OBSERVE THAT HALF OF THE WATER IN THE TEST TUBE (THE TEST TUBE
THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE NEGATIVE ELECTRODE) HAS BEEN DISPLACED BY
HYDROGEN GAS OUT OF THE WATER SOLUTION SLOWLY
* D. UNCLIP THE ALLIGATOR CLIPS. THEN PULL THE TEST TUBE WITH
Sunday 19 May 2024
HYDROGEN GAS OUT OF THE WATER SOLUTION SLOWLY.
* E. BE CAREFUL TO KEEP THE TEST TUBE POINTED DOWN, SO THE GAS WILL
NOT ESCAPE AND AVOID HAVING WATER FLOWING BACK UP TO THE TEST
TUBE.
• F. SLOWLY TILT THE TEST TUBE. LIGHT THE MATCH, AND HOLD IT ABOVE
THE OPENING OF THE TEST TUBE. THE HYDROGEN GAS WILL ENCOUNTER
THE FLAME AND A QUICK EXPLOSION WILL OCCUR.
• CAUTION!!!
• ASK FOR THE SUPERVISION OF YOUR TEACHER WHILE TESTING THE FLAME WITH
HYDROGEN GAS BECAUSE IT IS FLAMMABLE. DO NOT POINT THE MOUTH OF THE
TEST TUBE TO ANYONE OR TO YOURSELF. WEAR SAFETY GOOGLES FOR THE
FINAL FLAME TESTING.

Sunday 19 May 2024

• DRAW THE SETUP OF THE EXPERIMENT. PUT PROPER LABELS
OF THE MATERIALS USED. THEN WRITE YOUR OBSERVATIONS
DURING THE EXPERIMENT.

Sunday 19 May 2024

 GUIDE QUESTIONS

• WHAT TYPE OF BONDING IS INVOLVED WITH THE FORMATION OF WATER?

• EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER
• HOW WOULD YOU RELATE THE BOND ORDER IN THE FORMATION OF
WATER TO ELECTROLYSIS?
• WHAT HAVE YOU REALIZED AFTER DOING THE ACTIVITY

Sunday 19 May 2024

• Electrolysis is defined as a process of decomposing ionic
compounds into their elements by passing a direct electric
current through the compound in a fluid form. The cations
are reduced at cathode and anions are oxidized at the
anode. The main components that are required for
conducting electrolysis are an electrolyte, electrodes, and
some form of external power source is also needed.
Additionally, a partition such as an ion-exchange
membrane or a salt bridge is also used but this is optional.
These are used mainly to keep the products from diffusing
near the opposite electrode.
Sunday 19 May 2024
• An acidified or salt-containing water can be decomposed by
passing electric current to their original elements hydrogen
and oxygen. Molten sodium chloride can be decomposed to
sodium and chlorine atoms.

Sunday 19 May 2024

• Electrolysis is usually done in a vessel named ‘electrolytic
cell’ containing two electrodes (cathode and anode)
connected to a direct current source and an electrolyte which
is an ionic compound undergoing decomposition, in either
molten form or in a dissolves state in a suitable solvent.
Generally, electrodes that are made from metal, graphite and
semiconductor materials are used. However, the choice of a
suitable electrode is done based on chemical reactivity
between the electrode and electrolyte as well as the
manufacturing cost.

Sunday 19 May 2024

• Electrolytic Process
• In the process of electrolysis, there is an interchange of ions
and atoms due to the addition or removal of electrons from
the external circuit. Basically, on passing current, cations
move to the cathode, take electrons from the cathode (given
by the supply source-battery), and is discharged into the
neutral atom. The neutral atom, if solid, is deposited on the
cathode and if gas, move upwards. This is a reduction
process and the cation is, reduced at the cathode.

Sunday 19 May 2024

• At the same time anions, give up their extra electrons to the anode and is oxidized to
neutral atoms at the anode. Electrons released by the anions travel across the electrical
circuit and reach the cathode completing the circuit. Electrolysis involves a simultaneous
oxidation reaction at anode and a reduction reaction at the cathode.
• For example, when electric current, is, passed through molten sodium chloride, the
sodium ion is attracted by the cathode, from which, it takes an electrode and becomes a
sodium atom.
• Chloride ion reaches the anode, gives its electron, and become chlorine atom to form
chlorine molecule.
• Na+(in electrolyte) + e–(from cathode) → Na …. At Cathode
• Cl–(from electrolyte) → e– + Cl → Cl2 …. At Anode
• Electrolysis process, while useful to get elemental forms from compounds directly, it can
also be used indirectly in the metallurgy of alkali and alkaline earth metals, purification of
metals, deposition of metals, preparation of compounds etc.d
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• Cell Potential or Voltage
• The minimum potential needed for the electrolysis process
depends on their ability of the individual ions to absorb or
release electrons. It is also sometimes described as
decomposition potential or decomposition voltage which is
the minimum voltage (difference in electrode potential)
between anode and cathode of an electrolytic cell that enables
electrolysis to occur.

Sunday 19 May 2024

• The voltage at which electrolysis is thermodynamically
preferred is the difference of the electrode potentials as
calculated using the Nernst equation. Applying additional
voltage, referred to as overpotential, can increase the rate of
reaction and is often needed above the thermodynamic value. It
is especially necessary for electrolysis reactions involving
gases, such as oxygen, hydrogen or chlorine.

Sunday 19 May 2024

• This ability is, measured as an electrode potential of the ions
present in the electrolytic cell. The cell potential is the sum of
the potential required for the reduction and oxidation
reaction. The potential involved in various redox reactions is
available in literature as standard reduction potential.

Sunday 19 May 2024

• Reaction with positive redox cell potentials only will be feasible
as per thermodynamic Gibbs free energy (or standard potential).
Generally, the electrolysis is thermodynamically controlled.
• In electrolysis, a potential equal to or slightly more than that, is,
applied externally. The ions, which are stable and not reacting,
are made to undergo reaction in the presence of externally
applied potential. External potential hence makes an
unfavourable reaction to take place. In electrolysis, chemical
bonds connecting atoms are either made or broken and so,
electrolysis involves the conversion of electrical energy into
chemical energy.
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