UNIT 3 ELECTROCHEMISTRY

(GRADE 10 old curriculum)

Additional Questions
1. What do we call those devices that convert electrical energy to chemical energy or chemical
to electrical energy?
2. List materials you know that are products of electrochemistry.
Answers to Additional questions
1. Electrochemical cells
2. Sample answers: dry cell, watch battery, plated trophy medals etc.

Additional Questions
1. What is the basis for the classification of galvanic cells as primary and secondary?
2. In constructing simple galvanic cells why is it important to use two different metals as
electrodes? How can cells made in this way produce electricity? Explain.
3. In lead – acid (lead storage) batteries, the battery cannot be recharged indefinitely. Explain
why.
4. Why are some voltaic cells called dry cells, even though their chemistry involves water?
5. Given a voltaic cell consisting of a gold electrode in a gold nitrate solution in one half – cell,
and a zinc electrode in a zinc nitrate solution in another half – cell, and connected by a salt
bridge. The electrode reactions when a wire is connected to both electrodes are:

1
Answers to Additional questions

2
3
Additional Questions
1. What components does a conductivity apparatus possess?
2. When it is used repeatedly, how can a metal remain a conductor once its free electrons have
been displaced at the other end by the electricity entering the metal from the source?
3. Suppose you are passing electricity through a molten electrolyte. What will happen to the
conduction of electricity through the electrolyte as time goes on? Why?
4. Why do solutions of strong electrolytes conduct electricity better than solutions of weak
electrolytes of the same concentration?

Answers to Additional questions

1. Electric wires, electrodes, A D. C source or dry cells, a switch and a light bulb.
2. The free electron will be replaced by the electrons entering the metal from the source.
3. Decreases, because the cations and anions will change to their atomic and molecular state
(neutral).
4. Solutions of strong electrolytes dissociate completely into their ionic state and are better
conductors of electricity, while weak electrolytes dissociate to their ionic state to a little extent.
Additional Questions
1. List metals, nonmetals and compounds whose production involves the process of electrolysis.
2. An impure copper contains iron, zinc, nickel, platinum, gold and silver as impurities. During
purification of this copper by electrolysis:
a) Which of the metals oxidize along with copper and will go into the solution?
b) Which of the metals remain unaffected and fall away from the anode as sludge?
c) Among ions of the oxidized metals, copper ions pass through the solution, gain two
electrons each and deposit at the cathode. Why do ions of other metals remain in
solution? Explain.
3. Can the process of electroplating be carried out only in the presence of electricity?
4. When large current is used in the process of electroplating, the surface of the plated material
is rough. What do you think is the reason for this?

4
5. If you want to produce gold-plated coins, how can you accomplish this task?

Answers to Additional questions

1. Sample answer: Sodium, aluminum, chlorine, Oxygen; Sodium hydroxide
2. a) Zinc, iron and nickel
b) Platinum, gold and silver
c) Because a higher voltage of electricity is required to reduce ions of Ni2+ and Fe2+, compared
to Cu2+.
3. Yes
4. The amount of the plated substance is directly related to the amount of electricity delivered.
So large amounts of electricity produce large amounts of the plating metal at a time, which
deposit on the surface irregularly, making the surface rough.
5. Using gold as anode, the coin as cathode and an electrolyte containing gold ions.

The correct answer is:

a) the metal in the salt will deposit on the cathode

Explanation:

During the electrolysis of a molten binary salt (a compound made of two elements, such as a
metal and a nonmetal), the following happens:

●​ At the cathode (negative electrode): Reduction occurs, meaning that positive metal
ions (cations) in the molten salt are attracted to the cathode and gain electrons,
getting reduced to form the metal, which then deposits on the cathode.​
For example, in the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride (NaCl), Na⁺ ions are reduced
to form sodium metal (Na) at the cathode.
●​ At the anode (positive electrode): Oxidation occurs, meaning that negative ions
(anions) from the molten salt lose electrons and undergo oxidation. For example, in
molten NaCl, Cl⁻ ions are oxidized to form chlorine gas (Cl₂) at the anode.

Incorrect options:

●​ b) Reduction will take place at the anode: Incorrect because oxidation takes place at
the anode.

5
 ●​ c) Oxidation will take place at the cathode: Incorrect because reduction takes place
at the cathode.
●​ d) No current will flow through the molten salt: Incorrect because molten salts
contain free ions, allowing an electric current to flow and drive the electrolysis process.

No, this process **cannot be considered electroplating**. Here's why:

What Happens in This Process:

When a zinc electrode is dipped into a copper sulphate (CuSO₄) solution, the following reaction
occurs:

- Zinc (Zn) is more reactive than copper (Cu) in the reactivity series, meaning zinc can easily
displace copper from its compound.
- The reaction that takes place is a **spontaneous redox (displacement) reaction**:

Zn (s) + CuSO₄ (aq) —-> ZnSO₄ (aq) + Cu (s)

- Zinc (Zn) is oxidized:

Zn (s) —--> Zn^{2+} (aq) + 2e^-

- Copper ions (Cu²⁺) in solution are **reduced** and deposit as solid **copper (Cu)** on the zinc
electrode:

Cu^{2+} (aq) + 2e^- —--> Cu (s)

- As a result, a **reddish-brown layer of copper** forms on the zinc electrode.

### Why This is **Not Electroplating**:

6
1. **Spontaneous Reaction**:
- The process you're describing is a **spontaneous displacement reaction** driven by the
difference in reactivity between zinc and copper. In **electroplating**, however, the process is
**non-spontaneous** and is driven by an external source of **electric current**.

2. **No External Electric Current**:

- Electroplating requires an **external power supply** (usually a DC current) to drive the
reduction of metal ions onto the surface of an object. In this case, there is **no external
current**; the reaction happens spontaneously due to the natural reactivity of zinc.

3. **Control**:
- In electroplating, the process is carefully controlled to deposit a **thin, uniform layer** of
metal on an object for protective or decorative purposes. In this case, the copper deposits in an
**uncontrolled manner** due to the chemical reaction between zinc and copper sulphate.

### Summary:
This process is a **spontaneous displacement reaction** (where a more reactive metal
displaces a less reactive one), not electroplating. **Electroplating** requires an **external
electric current** to deposit the metal, whereas this reaction occurs naturally due to the
reactivity of zinc.

In the electrolytic refining of copper, it might seem like there is no overall chemical change
because the reactions at the anode and cathode involve copper. However, this process serves a
crucial purpose: producing pure copper from impure copper. Let's address your questions:

a) Why is there no net (overall) reaction?

In the electrolytic refining of copper, the half-reactions at the anode and cathode involve
copper ions:

●​ At the anode (impure copper dissolves):​

Cu(s)→Cu2+(aq)+2e−​
Copper is oxidized to form Cu²⁺ ions.
●​ At the cathode (pure copper is deposited):​
Cu2+(aq)+2e−→Cu(s)​
The Cu²⁺ ions from the electrolyte are reduced and deposited as solid copper.

If you sum these two half-reactions:

7
The overall (net) reaction becomes:

Cu(s)→Cu(s)

This indicates that the net change in the amount of copper is zero—copper is simply transferred
from the anode to the cathode, but there is no apparent change in chemical species. This is why
there is no net reaction.

However, the key point is that the quality of copper is being changed, not the quantity. The
process removes impurities from the impure copper anode, depositing only pure copper on
the cathode, which is crucial for industrial use.

b) Does this process mean wastage of time, labor, and energy? Why?

No, this process is not a waste of time, labor, or energy. Here’s why:

1.​ Production of High-Purity Copper: The primary goal of the electrolytic refining process
is to obtain high-purity copper (99.99% pure), which is essential for applications in
industries like electronics, electrical wiring, and telecommunications. Impurities in
copper can affect its conductivity and performance, so purifying it is a necessity.
2.​ Removal of Impurities: Although it seems like there is no net reaction, the impurities in
the copper (such as zinc, iron, lead, gold, silver, etc.) either:
○​ Remain in the electrolyte solution as dissolved ions (e.g., zinc, iron), or
○​ Fall to the bottom of the electrolytic cell as anode sludge (e.g., silver, gold), from
where valuable metals can be recovered.
3.​ Efficient Use of Resources:
○​ Time and labor invested in this process are crucial for producing market-ready,
high-quality copper.
○​ Energy consumption is a factor, but the benefit of obtaining pure copper with
enhanced properties outweighs the energy cost. Additionally, advancements in
technology have made the process more efficient.
4.​ Economic Value:
○​ The impurities removed (such as gold, silver, and platinum) have significant
economic value and can be recovered from the anode sludge, making the
process more cost-effective.
○​ The production of pure copper is essential for modern technology, and the
demand for pure copper in industrial applications justifies the investment in this
process.

Summary:

●​ No net reaction occurs in electrolytic copper refining because copper is dissolved at the
anode and deposited at the cathode, but the critical purpose of the process is the
removal of impurities and the production of pure copper.

8
●​ The process is not a waste of time, labor, or energy, because it results in high-purity
copper essential for many industrial applications. The recovery of valuable metals from
impurities further enhances its economic value.

9
10
 UNIT 2 ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(GRADE 12 new curriculum)

Additional Questions

11
Answers to Additional questions

12
Additional Questions

Answers to Additional questions

Additional Questions

Answers to Additional questions

Additional Questions

Answers to Additional questions

13
Additional Questions

Answers to Additional questions

14