Do this worksheet with your group !

1 Electrolysis is the decomposition of some compounds using electricity.

a) Circle all the substances in the list that can be decomposed by

electrolysis.

solid ionic compounds molten ionic compounds

ionic compounds in solution gases solid covalent compounds

molten covalent compounds covalent compounds in solution

b) What do these substances have in common that allows them to be electrolysed?

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c) Label this diagram by drawing a line from each label on the right to the correct part
of the diagram.
d) A student did some investigations into the electrolysis of solutions of sodium
chloride, sulfuric acid and copper sulfate. Complete the table to show the student’s
results.

Solution Ions in solution Product(s) at cathode Product(s) at anode

sodium chloride Na+, Cl−, H+, OH− hydrogen gas
sodium hydroxide solution
sulfuric acid H+, SO42− , OH− oxygen gas
copper sulfate Cu2+, SO42− , H+, OH− copper metal

e) Explain why each solution contains the ions H+ and OH−.

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2 Explain why:

a) the reactions at the cathode are reduction reactions

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b) the reactions at the anode are oxidation reactions

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c) the anode and cathode must be made from inert substances such as carbon or
platinum.

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3 The student do investigation using zinc electrode instead of a solution of
copper(II)nitrate. At the cathode copper metal was produced.

a) Write a half equation for the production of copper at the cathode during the
electrolysis.

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b) Suggest the products that will be made if zinc nitrate is electrolysed using copper
electrode.

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