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PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT I
Instructions : i) Students are required to plan, design and conduct an experiment on the
electrolysis of copper(II) sulphate by using copper electrodes and carbon
electrodes.
ii) Your report should include the following criteria :
1. Aim/Problem statement
2. Hypothesis
3. Variables
4. Apparatus/Materials
5. Methods/Steps/Procedures
6. Table of results/Observation
7. Analysis/Discussion
8. Conclusion
Title : The effect of the types of electrodes on the selective discharge of ions at the
anode and cathode
Variables :
Procedure :
1. The carbon electrodes are cleaned with a piece of sandpaper.
2. The carbon electrodes are weighed individually and the readings are recorded.
3. An electrolytic cell is set up as shown in the diagram.
4. The cell is filled up with copper(II) sulphate solution until its level is above
the electrodes .
5. The electric current is allowed to flow for 15 minutes.
6. Changes at both electrodes are noted and recorded.
7. The gas collected is tested with a glowing wooden splinter.
8. The anode is taken out, washed, dried and then weighed using an electronic balance.
9. The experiment is repeated using copper electrodes.
10. All the readings and observations are recorded in the table below.
Observation :
1. The ions present in copper(ll) sulphate solution are H+ , OH- , Cu2+ and SO42-.
2. At the anode
a) OH- ions and SO42- are attracted to the anode but only OH- is selectively discharged.
b) This is because OH- occupies a lower position than SO42- in the electrochemical
series.
c) The discharge of OH- will produce oxygen according to the following equation.
4OH- → 2H2O + O2 + 4e
Cu2+ + 2e → Cu
1. The sulphate ions and hydroxide ions move to the anode. However, these ions are not
discharged. Instead, the copper in the copper anode ionises to form copper ions Cu2+.
Cu→ Cu2+ + 2e
2. During the electrolysis using copper electrodes, the copper (II) ions and hydrogen ion
move to the cathode. Copper(II) ion is lower than hydrogen in the electrochemical
series. Hence, in these copper ions are selectively discharged to form copper metal.
Cu2+ + 2e → Cu
3. The intensity of blue colour of the electrolyte remains unchanged. This is because the
concentrated of the blue copper(II) ions remains unchanged. For one copper(II) ion
discharge to form a copper atom at the anode, one copper atom from the anode will
dissolve to form a copper (II) ion.
Conclusion :
Different type of electrode used, can affect the products of electrolysis. The hypothesis is accepted.