SAMPLE 1

Electrolysis of copper(II) sulphate by using copper electrodes and carbon electrodes K1PP1(i) Problem statement : How do the types of electrodes affect the products of electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate solution? Hypothesis : Different types of electrodes will form different products at the electrodes.

K1PP1(ii)

Manipulated variable: Different types of electrodes. Responding variable : Products of electrolysis. Fixed variable Apparatus Chemicals Procedure : Concentration of aqueous copper(II) suphate solution. : Electrolytic cells, carbon electrodes, copper electrodes, ammeter, connecting wires , batteries. K1PP1(iii) : Aqueous copper(II) sulphate 1 mol dm-3. : 1. An electrolytic cell is set up as shown in the diagram below.

2. The cell is filled up with aqueous solution of copper(II) sulphate until its level is above the electrode . 3. The electric current is allowed to flow for about 15 minutes. 4. Changes at both the electrodes are noted and recorded. 5. The gas collected is tested with a glowing wooden splinter. KIPP1(iv)

6. The experiment is repeated with copper electrodes to replace the carbon electrodes. Observation : Cathode Anode Carbon Carbon Observation Cathode
(a) An brown metallic substance is deposited at the cathode. (b)Th e blue colour of electrolyte become lighter. (a) An brown metallic substance is deposited at the cathode. (b)Th e blue colour of electrolyte remains unchanged.

Anode
(a) A gas is liberated. (b) The gas ignites a glowing splinter.

Inference Cathode
The metallic deposit at the cathode is copper.

Anode
The gas liberated at the anode is oxygen.

KIVPP2
(a) The electrode becomes thinner. Copper is deposited at the cathode. The copper anode corroded.

Copper KIPP1(v)

Copper

KIIIPP1 KIIIPP2

A. Using Carbon as Electrodes

KIIIPP3

Discussion 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 KIVPP1 equation. 4OH 2H2O + O2 + 4e d) Thus oxygen is liberated at the anode . It will ignite a glowing splinter.

3. At the cathode: a) H+ and Cu2+ are attracted to the cathode but only Cu2+ is chosen to be discharged by the carbon electrode. b) The discharge of Cu2+ will produce copper, Cu. Cu2+ + 2e Cu c) Thus copper is formed and deposited on the cathode. d) As the experiment continues, more and more copper ions will be discharged. The Cu2+ ions give copper(II) sulphate its blue colour. Thus as times continues, the solution will become less bluish because concentration of the copper ions decreases. B. Using Copper as Electrodes Discussion : 1. The copper in the copper anode ionises to form copper ions Cu2+ . Cu Cu2+ + 2e 2. These copper ions moves to the cathode to be discharged. Cu2+ + 2e Cu : Different type of electrode used, can affect the products of electrolysis. KIVPP3

Conclusion