Chapter 6.

Electrolysis
Q. 1. Oassify following substances under three headings :
Strong electrolytes, Weak electrolytes, Non-electrolyles.
Acetic acid, ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide, carbon tetrachloride, dilute
hydrochloric acid, sodium acetate, dilute sulphuric acid.
Ans. Strong electrolytes - Ammonium chloride, dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sulphuric acid.
Weak electrolytes - Ammonium hydroxide, acetic acid, sodium acetates.
Non-electrolyte - Carbon tetra chloride.
Q. 2. How will you distinguish between metallic conduction and electrical conduction ?
Ans. Metallic Conduction Electrical Conduction
(i) By the Movement of electrons. By the Movement of ions.
(ii) Does not involve the transfer of matter. It involves the transfer of matter as ions.
(ill) No change in chemical properties of the It involve the decomposition of electrolyte as
conductor. a result of chemical reactions.
(iv) Increase in resistance with the rise of Decrease in resistance with the rise of
temperature. temperature.
Q. 3. Differentiate between an electrolytic cell and electrochemical cell
Ans. Electrolytic cell ElectrochemicaJ cell
It is a device (vessel) in which chemical It is a device in which electric energy is
changes are brought about with the help of generated as a result of chemical change.
electric energy.
Q. 4. Differentiate between electrical conductivity of copper sulphate solution and copper metaL
Ans. Differences between electrical conductivity of copper sulphate solution and copper metal :
Copper sulphate solution Copper metal
(i) Electric current is by flow of ions. Electric current is by Oow of electrons.
(ii) ft is aqueous solution of ionic compound. It is a metal in solid state.
(iii) Copper sulphate undergoes a chemical change. Coppe r metal remains unchanged
chemically.
 Q . 5. Choose A, B, C or D to match the descriptions (i) to (v) below. Some alphabets may be repeated.
(A) Non-electrolyte (B) Strong electrolyte
(C) Weak electrolyte (D ) Metallic conductor
(i) Molten ionic compound
(ii) Carbon tetrachloride
(iii) An aluminium wire
(iv) A solution containing solvent molcules, solute molecules and ions formed by the
dissociation of solute molecules.
(v) A sugar solution with Slllgar molecules and water molecules.
Ans. (i) B (ii) A (Hi) D (iv) C (v) A
Q . 6. Give three differences between soclium atom and sodium ion.
Ans. (i) Sodium atom is neutral in nature, while sodium ion is a positively charged particle.
(ii) Sodium atom vigorously reacts wilh water to liberate hydrogen gas, while sodium ion d oes
not react with water.
(iii) Sodium atom tends to lose an electron to form sodium ion with a complete octet in the
outermost shell.
Q . 7. Explain how electrolysis is an example of redox reaction.
Ans . Redox reactions are calJed simultaneous oxid ation-reduction reactions. In electrode reactions, the
positively charged ions (cations) accept electrons &om cathode to form neutral atoms, i.e., at
cathode reduction takes place. At anode, the negatively charged ions (anions) lose electrons to
form neutral atoms, i.e., at anode oxidation takes place. So, electrode reactions also signify
oxidation-reduction reactions. Hence, they are also caJled redox reactions.
Q. 8. (i) Write equations to show the electrolytic dissociation of:
(a) Two acids (b) Two bases
(ii) When fused sodium chloride is electrolysed, explain exactly what happens at the electrodes
and explain how the electi:ricity is conducted ?
Ans. (i) (a) Acids : H1 SO4 .== 2H+ + SO/-
HN03 .== H++ N03-
(b) Bases : Na0H .== Na♦ + O H-
KOH .== K♦ + 0H-
(ii) When electricity is passed through fused sodium chloride, the electrolysis starts as follows:
NaCl .== Na♦ + Cl
Na++ c - Na (At cathode)
Cl -e - Cl
0 + Cl - 0 2 (At anode)
Sodium metal is deposited at cathode, while chlorine gas is liberated at anode. Electricity is
conducted with the help of free sodium and chloride ions, w h ich are present in fused <;odium
chloride.
Q. 9. How is it po~ible to dbcharge Na+ ions in preference to H• ions in electrolysis of NaCl solution?
Ans. By using cathode made o f moving mercury, Na+ Ions are discharged in preference to H• ions
because of the nature of electrode. Mercury has s trong tendency to form an amalgam with
sodium:
Na• +!!" - Na
Na+ Hg - Na/Hg
When the sodium amalgam dissolves in water, the reaction is :
2Na/ H,g + 2H 20 - - + 2Na0H + H 2 + Hg
Q. 10. A certain metal, say M, does not liberate hydrogen from dilute sulphuric acid, but displaces
copper from aqueous copper(II) sulphate. State the most likely place for the metal in electro-
chemical series.
Ans. The activity series is obtained, when we examine replacement of one metal ion from its solution
by another metal The metal (M) which displaces copper from aqueous copper(II) sulphate is
placed at higher position as compared to copper in activity series.
Q. 11. M is a metal above hydrogen in the activity series and its oxide has the formula M 20. This oxide
when dissolved in water forms the corresponding hydroxide which is a good conductor of
electricity. In the above context answer the following:
(i) What kind of combination exists between Mand O ?
(ii) How many electrons are there in the outermost shell of M ?
(iii) Name the group to which M belongs.
(iv) State the reaction taking place at the cathode.
(v) Name the product at the anode.
Ans. (i) Electrovalent bond exists behveen Mand 0.
(ii) One electron is there in the outermost shell.
(iii) M belongs to First group.
(iv) M+ + e- - M (at cathode).
M + M-M2
(v) Oxygen gas is liberated at anode.
Q. U . How will you electrolyse the molten solution of lead bromide?
Ans. Molten lead bromide (PbBr2 ) forms Pb2• and Br ions. The positive lead ions (Pb 2•) move to the
cathode, and gain h,•o electrons and change into lead atom.
Pb 2•+2e- - Pb
( Lead)
Lead is deposited at the cathode. The negative bromide ion migrates to the anode. It loses an
electron and becomes a bromide atom. The hvo bromine atoms join bromine molecule. It is
liberated as bromine gas :
Br- f"" - Br
Br + Br - Br2
Q. 13. (i) What are the particles present in a non-electrolyte?
(ii) What is conductivity of metals due to?
(ili) What should be the physical state of lead bromide, if it is to conduct electricity?
(iv) What particles are present in pure Lead bromide?
Ans. (i) Molecules are present in a non-electrolyte.
(ii) The conductivity of metals is due to movement of electrons.
(ili) Lead bromide should be in molten state, if it is to conduct electricity.
(iv) Lead ions and bromide ions are present in pure lead bromide in molten state.
Q . 14. (i) When the electrolysis of acidified water is carried out :
(a) What is the ratio of the volume of hydrogen produced to the volume of oxygen?
(b) Give the equation for the discharge of ions at the cathode.
(ii) To carry out the so-called 'electrolysis of water', sulphuric acid is added to water. How does
the addition of sulphuric acid produce a conducting solution?
Ans. (i) (a) The ratio is 2 : 1
(b) H.,.+e-- -- H; 2H +2H- 2H2
(ii) Addition of sulphuric add causes dissociation of water molecules into fH+) and fOH-] ions.
Q. 15. What would happen if in the electrolysis of acidified water, copper electrodes were used instead
of platinum ones?
Ans. At anode : OH- and SO/- would migrate to anode but neither would be discharged, instead
copper atoms would get oxidised to Cu1 + and enter solution
Cu - Cu 2+ + 2e-
The electrolytic solution would become blue in colour. Anode would dissolve.
At cathode : H+ ions would migrate to the cathode and get reduced. Thus, H 2 gas would be
discharged at cathode
2J-1• +2r - - 2H - H 2
Later, as the solution turns blue due to formation of Cu 2• ions, the Cu2• ions will get discharged
to 2H+ ions as they are less electropositive
Cu 2• + 2c - - Cul
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