ElectrolysisIB MYP Chemistry: Flashcards

What these 13 flashcards ask

What is electrolysis?
Why can't solid ionic compounds conduct?
What is an electrolyte?
Which electrode is the cathode?
Which electrode is the anode?
Products of electrolysing molten lead(II) bromide?
Half-equation for chloride ions at the anode?
Half-equation for copper ions at the cathode?
What forms at the cathode in aqueous solution if the metal is more reactive than hydrogen?
What forms at the anode in aqueous solution if no halide ion is present?
Products of electrolysing brine?
In electroplating, which electrode is the object to be plated?
What is the anode made from in electroplating?

Exam questions on Electrolysis

A technician in a school laboratory in Nairobi electrolyses molten lead(II) bromide, PbBr₂, using inert graphite electrodes inside a fume cupboard.
Write the half-equation for the change at the anode.2 marks
A student electrolyses blue copper(II) sulfate solution for 20 minutes using inert graphite electrodes. A pink-brown solid coats the cathode, bubbles of a colourless gas form at the anode and relight a glowing splint, and the blue colour of the solution fades slightly.
The student now plans to investigate how the size of the current affects the mass of copper deposited at the cathode in 20 minutes. Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.2 marks
A chemical plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, electrolyses concentrated sodium chloride solution (brine) using inert electrodes. The process makes three useful products.
Explain why hydrogen, and not sodium, forms at the cathode.3 marks

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).