Lesson: Electrolysis of Salt Solutions Chemistry

In this lesson, we will learn how to predict the products of electrolysis of aqueous salt solutions using the reactivity series.

Lesson Plan

Objectives

Students will be able to

predict the products of electrolysis of aqueous electrolytes, using inert electrodes,
write half-equations for reactions occurring at the anode and cathode of voltaic cells.

Prerequisites

Students should already be familiar with

the reactivity series of metals,
electrolysis of a melt,
ionic half-equations.

Exclusions

Students will not cover

links to standard values from the electrochemical series and the products discharged.

Lesson Video

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

What products are formed from the electrolysis of dilute sodium chloride solution?

Q2:

What equation shows the reaction at the cathode during the electrolysis of potassium chloride solution using inert electrodes?

Q3:

Three separate electrolytic cells are set up, all with inert electrodes. Cell X uses an electrolyte of aqueous zinc chloride, cell Y uses an electrolyte of molten zinc chloride, and cell Z uses an electrolyte of aqueous sodium chloride.

Which cells produce a gas at both electrodes?