1

1 There are two electrochemical methods of rust prevention.

(a) The first method is sacrificial protection.

Explain why the steel article does not rust.

steel pipe
connected block of zinc
electrically
to steel pipe

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...........................................................................................................................................

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........................................................................................................................................... [4]

The second method is to make the steel article the cathode in a circuit for electrolysis.

power

– +
steel girder
inert anode

bubbles of
hydrogen gas sea-water

(b) Mark on the diagram the direction of the electron flow.

[1]

(c) The steel girder does not rust because it is the cathode. Reduction takes place at the cathode.
Give the equation for the reduction of hydrogen ions.

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 7]

2 Aluminium is obtained by the reduction of aluminium ions to aluminium atoms.

In the modern method of extraction, aluminium is obtained by the electrolysis of aluminium

oxide (alumina) dissolved in molten cryolite, Na3AlF6.
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waste gases,
O2, CO2, CO, F2

carbon anode (+)

mixture of aluminium
carbon cathode (–) oxide and cryolite

molten aluminium

(a) The major ore of aluminium is impure aluminium oxide.

What is the name of this ore?

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) This ore is a mixture of aluminium oxide, which is amphoteric, and iron(III) oxide which is
basic.

Explain how these two oxides can be separated by the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Give two reasons why the electrolyte contains cryolite.

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........................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 5]

3 Items can be electroplated with silver using the apparatus shown below.
 3

– +
A C

alloy rod rod of silver

electrolyte
D

(a) On the diagram, which letter, A, B, C or D, is the cathode?

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) What would you observe during the experiment at the:

positive electrode,

...........................................................................................................................................

negative electrode?

...........................................................................................................................................

[2]

(c) The electrolyte used is aqueous silver cyanide, AgCN.

Calculate the relative formula mass of silver cyanide.

You must show all your working.

[2]

[Total: 5]

4 Aluminium is obtained by the reduction of aluminium ions to aluminium atoms.

 4

The original method of extracting aluminium involved the reduction of aluminium chloride using the
reactive metal sodium. Aluminium obtained by this method was very expensive due to the high
cost of extracting sodium from sodium chloride.

(a) Complete the equation for this reduction.

Al Cl3 + .........Na → ......... + ......... [2]

(b) How can sodium metal be obtained from sodium chloride?

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 4]

5 Zinc can be obtained from zinc oxide in a two step process. Aqueous zinc sulfate is made from
zinc oxide and then this solution is electrolysed with inert electrodes. The electrolysis is similar to
that of copper(II) sulfate with inert electrodes.

(a) Name the reagent which will react with zinc oxide to form zinc sulfate.

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Complete the following for the electrolysis of aqueous zinc sulfate.

Write the equation for the reaction at the negative electrode.

............................................................................................................................................

Name the product at the positive electrode.

............................................................................................................................................

The electrolyte changes from zinc sulfate to ......................................................................

[3]

[Total: 4]

6 A dry cell (battery) has a central rod, usually made of graphite. This is the positive electrode which
is surrounded by the electrolyte, typically a paste of ammonium chloride and manganese(IV) oxide,
all of which are in a zinc container which is the negative electrode.
 5

wire
electrons flow
graphite
when cell
electrode
produces
energy
zinc
electrode

electrolyte which is a paste of

ammonium chloride
and manganese(IV) oxide

(a) Draw an arrow on the diagram to indicate the direction of electron flow.

[1]

(b) Suggest why the electrolyte is a paste.

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) The following changes occur in a dry cell.

For each change, decide if it is oxidation or reduction and give a reason for your choice.

2+
Zn to Zn

............................................................................................................................................

manganese(IV) oxide to manganese(III) oxide

............................................................................................................................................
[2]

[Total: 4]

7 Nickel is refined by electrolysis.

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(a) Complete the boxes to label the diagram below to show:

- the negative electrode (cathode),

- the positive electrode (anode),
- the electrolyte.
+ –

[2]

(b) At which electrode is the pure nickel formed?

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 3]

8 Complete the diagram below for the electrolysis of molten zinc chloride.
Label the electrodes and the power source.

molten
zinc chloride

[3]

[Total: 3]
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9 Many fertilisers contain potassium chloride.

When molten potassium chloride is electrolysed, two products are formed.
Complete the table below to show the name of the electrodes and the products
formed.

charge on name of product formed

the electrode the electrode at the electrode

positive

negative

[3]

[Total: 3]

10 Another way of determining the order of reactivity of metals is by measuring the voltage and
polarity of simple cells. The polarity of a cell is shown by which metal is the positive electrode
and which metal is the negative electrode. An example of a simple cell is shown below.

voltmeter
V

+ –
lead electrode zinc electrode

electrolyte of
dilute acid

(a) Mark on the above diagram the direction of the electron flow.

[1]

(b) Explain, in terms of electron transfer, why the more reactive metal is always the negative
electrode.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 3]

11 A student electrolysed lead(II) bromide in a fume cupboard using the apparatus shown below.
 8

anode cathode

lead(II) bromide

(a) Why is heat needed for this electrolysis?

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Suggest the name of a substance that could be used for the electrodes.

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Suggest the name of a substance that could be used for the electrodes.

the anode, .......................................................................................................................

the cathode. .................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 3]

12 A way of determining the order of reactivity of metals is by measuring the voltage and
polarity of simple cells. The polarity of a cell is shown by which metal is the positive electrode
and which metal is the negative electrode.

The following table gives the polarity of cells using the metals zinc, lead, copper and
manganese.

cell electrode polarity electrode 2 polarity

A zinc lead +
−

B manganese lead +
−

C copper + lead
−
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(a) What information about the order of reactivity of these four metals can be deduced
from
the table?

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) What additional information is needed to establish the order of reactivity of these
four
metals using cells?

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 3]

13 Molten nickel(II) chloride can be electrolysed using graphite electrodes.

Give two reasons why graphite is used for electrodes.

1. ..............................................................................................................................................

2. .............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

14 Molten nickel(II) chloride can be electrolysed using graphite electrodes.

Predict the products of this electrolysis at:

the positive electrode (anode) ..................................................................................................

the negative electrode (cathode). ............................................................................................ [2]

[Total: 2]
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15 Hydrogen chloride gas dissolves in water to form hydrochloric acid.

The diagram below shows the apparatus used to electrolyse concentrated hydrochloric acid.

X Y

+ –

Label the diagram to show

- the anode,
- the cathode,
- the electrolyte.
[2]

[Total: 2]

16 Hydrogen chloride gas dissolves in water to form hydrochloric acid.

The diagram below shows the apparatus used to electrolyse concentrated hydrochloric acid.

X Y

+ –

Give the names of the gases collected at

X, ..............................................................................................................................................

Y. .............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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17 The table below gives some properties of some metals that are used to make electrical cables and
wires.

electrical melting point price

metal strength
conductivity / °C $ / kg

aluminium comparatively weak good 660 1.5

copper strong very good 1093 29

steel strong fairly good 1535 2.1

silver fairly strong very good 962 635

Suggest why aluminium with a steel core is used for overhead power cables.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

18 Complete the word equation for the electrolysis of molten sodium bromide.

sodium bromide → ...................................... + ...................................... [2]

[Total: 2]

19 Molten zinc chloride can be electrolysed using graphite electrodes.

State the names of the product formed at:

the anode .................................................................................................................................

the cathode. ............................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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20 The table shows some properties of aluminium, copper, iron and sodium.

electrical density in melting

metal 3 strength colour
conductivity point / °C
g/cm

aluminium very good 2.70 660 fairly strong silver

copper very good 8.92 1083 very strong pink-brown

iron good 7.86 1535 very strong silver

sodium good 0.97 98 weak silver

Use the information in the table to suggest why overhead electricity cables are made from aluminium
with a steel core.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

21 Molten zinc chloride can be electrolysed using graphite electrodes.

Give the name of the products formed at

the anode, ................................................................................................................................

the cathode. ............................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

22 Aluminium is obtained by the reduction of aluminium ions to aluminium atoms.

Write an ionic equation for the reduction of an aluminium ion to an aluminium atom.

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

23 Zinc is extracted from zinc sulfate by electrolysis using the cell shown below.
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+ –
lead rod aluminium rod

aqueous zinc sulfate

(a) Which word best describes the aluminium rod?

Put a ring around the correct answer.

A B C D E F

[1]

(b) Suggest which statement about this electrolysis is completely correct.

Tick one box.

Zinc is formed at the positive electrode and

hydrogen at the negative electrode.

Zinc is formed at the positive electrode and

oxygen at the negative electrode.

Zinc is formed at the negative electrode and

hydrogen at the positive electrode.

Zinc is formed at the negative electrode and

oxygen at the positive electrode;
[1]

[Total: 2]
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24 The table below gives some properties of some metals that are used to make electrical cables and
wires.

electrical melting point price

metal strength
conductivity / °C $ / kg

aluminium comparatively weak good 660 1.5

copper strong very good 1093 29

steel strong fairly good 1535 2.1

silver fairly strong very good 962 635

Copper is used in electrical wiring in the home rather than silver.

Suggest why.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

25 The diagram shows the apparatus used for the electrolysis of molten sodium bromide.

+ –

S U

What does the term electrolysis mean?

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
 15

26 The diagram shows the apparatus used for the electrolysis of molten sodium bromide.

+ –

S U

Which letter, R, S, T or U, in the diagram above represents the cathode?

........................... [1]

[Total: 1]

27 Molten zinc chloride can be electrolysed using graphite electrodes.

Graphite conducts electricity. Give one other reason why graphite electrodes are used.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

28 The table shows some properties of aluminium, copper, iron and sodium.

electrical density in melting

metal 3 strength colour
conductivity point / °C
g/cm

aluminium very good 2.70 660 fairly strong silver

copper very good 8.92 1083 very strong pink-brown

iron good 7.86 1535 very strong silver

sodium good 0.97 98 weak silver

Use the information in the table to suggest one reason why sodium is not used for electricity cables.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
 16

29 Some properties of aluminium and silver are shown in the table below.

density electrical melting point

cost 3
conductivity /°C
in g / cm

aluminium high 2.7 good 660

silver very high 10.5 very good 962

Use the information in the table to suggest why aluminium rather than silver is used in overhead
power cables.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]