Lesson: Electrolysis of Salt Solutions Chemistry • 10th Grade

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

Lesson Plan

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.

Lesson Presentation

Lesson Video

Lesson Explainer

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?