LABORATORY EXPERIMENT NO.

ELECTROLYSIS, FORMATION OF RUST IN MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS

OBJECTIVES

1. The students will be able to explain the process of corrosion, electrolysis underlying the
concept of the reaction.
2. Determine the differences in the reaction rates of corrosion as function of both the presence
of oxygen moisture and other chemicals, of electrolysis as function of the presence of material,
and current.
3. Compare the effects of electrolysis and corrosion to the materials subjected to the reaction
under different condition.

ABSTRACT

Electrolysis is the process by which an electric current is passed through a substance

to affect a chemical change. The chemical change occurs when the substance loses electrons
(oxidation) or gains them (reduction). Electrolysis is used to remove hair, split compounds, and
in the manufacturing process to decorate, strengthen, and make metal surfaces more resistant
to rust. Also during electrolysis, electrical energy is used to cause a nonspontaneous chemical
reaction to occur. Electrolysis is often used to obtain elements that are too chemically reactive
to be found free in nature.

The importance of corrosion can be seen in daily life. Corrosion causes accidents in
industry, on highways, and in homes. It is wasteful financially, costing industrialized nations 4-
5% of their gross domestic products annually. A little knowledge of electrochemistry, material
science and corrosion could save nations some 25% of this loss.

Corrosion engineering is the application of science and art to prevent or control

corrosion damage in a safe and economical manner. To perform this function properly, the
corrosion engineer must rely on experimental research. This is because the major aspects of
corrosion engineering are largely empirical in nature. A body of theory exists that can be very
helpful in solving corrosion problems, but in the final analysis, most decisions are based on the
results of empirical tests.

Corrosion tests are conducted for a number of reasons including:

1. Establishing corrosion mechanisms.

2. Defining corrosion resistance of materials and how to develop new corrosion resistant
alloys.
3. Estimating service life of equipment.
4. Developing corrosion protection processes.
5. Defining the critical potential values for materials in various environments.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Six small containers (plastic cup ) (Enough to fill one container)

Two 100mL beaker 150 grams of Rock Salt
One Medium sized Plastic container Muriatic acid to fill half of the container
Six cover for the plastic cup 2 pcs of Thumbtacks
Six steel/ iron nails 4 pcs of Alligator Clip
Container for Plastic container 3 type of Battery (9 or 6 volt battery or
500 mL of Tap Water greater)
Cooking oil (Enough to fill one Matchstick
container) 2 Test tube
Carbonated Drink (Enough to fill one Rubber band
container) Copper wire (take of the rubber cover)
Vinegar (Enough to fill one container) Nickel metal (A coin or a key)
Calamansi Juice / Lemon Juice
EXPERIMENTAL PROCESS

A. CORROSION (at least 3 Setup for the whole class)

1. Prepare and set up all materials and equipment required for the experiment. Make
sure that the containers to be used are clean and dry before filling each of them with
various fluids. (Label the containers with Codes 1st 2nd 3rd or A B C..)
2. Fill the 1st container with water ¾ the height, while 2 and 3 half the height with water.
Fill the 3 remaining container with Different fluids (Carbonated drink, vinegar and
Calamansi juice)
3. In container 2 thoroughly combine 30-60 grams of rock salt by stirring the solution.
4. In container 3, gently pour cooking oil into the container forming a layer of oil on top.
5. Observe cleanliness and orderliness. Take documentation of the process, the nails or
screws, the set up. After documentation weigh the iron nails and submerge it into the
liquid. Take note the weight of each nails for each container.
6. Cover the containers. Over the next day’s (Up to the next week meeting) take record
of each of the nails condition by examining the physical characteristics of the materials
submerged in the different liquid.
(For each group take note of the location of the containers temperature. Or amount of
Liquid used for each container)

B. ELECTROLYSIS (at least 3 set up for the whole class)

1. Prepare the remaining equipment required for the experiment Make sure that the
containers are clean and dry before use and being filled by fluids.
2. On your plastic container Insert 2 thumbtacks with relative length from each other
unto the container. Insure that water wont leak out at the bottom.
3. Fill the plastic container with ¾ Water and ¼ Vinegar with 100grams of Rocksalt
Insure before filling the container the solution is properly stirred and mixed.
4. Using the rubber band and Test tube ensure a setup of which the position of the
testube filled with water on top of the thumbstack is in properly placed while the reaction
 is taking place.
5. Connect the Battery into the Thumbtacks (Determine the anode and the cathode.
6. For each process Take a step by step documentation. Observe the amount of gas
formed in the reaction from the anode and cathode. Take time.
7. After a few minutes or until one test tube is filled with gas. Take the set up,
disconnect the battery and light up both test tube without releasing the gas inside with
the match stick. And observe what happened to the anode test tube and cathode test
tube

C. ELECTROPLATING (at least 1 set up for the whole class)

1. Prepare the remaining equipment required for the experiment. Make sure that the
containers are clean and dry before use and being filled by fluids.
2. Fill half the 2 Beaker with water and Muriatic acid solution (50-50 by volume) or just
for the Copper and Nickel to be submerged
3. Take documentation, weigh and take note of the appearance of the copper and
nickel. Before you connect alligator clips into the copper and nickel into the 2 type
battery.
4. Submerged the nickel and copper into the solution.
5. Take picture, document of the solution take time (it may take 30 minutes for an
observable change to happen) and observe what happens to the anode and
cathode. Observe and take note if ever a different type of battery will yield a different
result. (Class is 3 hours, take at least analysis of 45 minutes difference)

DATA ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION (to be done by group)

1. Write a balanced reaction for each of the experiment including the combustion inside the
test tube

ELECTROLYSIS

2.. Why does more gas form in one test tube than in the other?

3. What should the ratio of hydrogen gas volume be to oxygen gas volume?

4.How many ml of gas did you actually collect? Hydrogen? Oxygen?

Does this volume match your ratio?

5.Which gas was in the tube with the positive and which gas was in the tube with the negativ
e? How do you know which was Hydrogen and which was oxygen?

6.How could this be used in a real world application? Research this topic of water electrolysi
s and see if there are any real world applications to the decomposition of water.
 CORROSION

6. Provide a table to keep the records of the different data to be collected in the
laboratory experiment. (Take note of the Presence of rust, Accumulated Mass of the
material, Temperature (ambience on which it is subjected into)).
Example:
DAY CONTAINER
and
time
1 2 3 4 5 6
Presence of 1
rust 2
3
Observation 1
2
3
7. How could this be used in real world application? Research this topic of water
electrolysis and see if there are any real world applications to the prevention and
study of corrosion.

ELECTROPLATING

8. Draw a descriptive and step by step cell diagram of what happened to the Copper
and Nickel as an electrolytic cell.
9. Describe the effect of time and Current Between the 2 Containers or (the anode
and cathode )on the process of Electroplating. (take note of the appearance and
weight)
Example
1st Container (with 9V 2nd Container with (Bigger
battery) V battery)
Before Submersion
1st 45 minutes
2nd 45 Minutes
3rd45 Minutes
CONCLUSION (to be done individually)
After conducting the experiment it became apparent that…