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Electrolysis
Question Paper

Course CIE IGCSE Chemistry

Section 4. Electrochemistry
Topic Electrolysis
Difficulty Medium

Time Allowed 100

Score /79
Percentage /100

Page 1 of 18

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Question 1a
Aluminium is obtained from purified alumina, Al2O3, by electrolysis.
Alumina is obtained from the main ore of aluminium.
State the name of this ore.
[1 mark]

Question 1b
Separate: Chemistry and Extended Only
Describe the extraction of aluminium from alumina. Include the electrolyte, the electrodes and the reactions at the
electrodes.
[6 marks]

Page 2 of 18

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Question 1c
Extended Only
Aluminium is resistant to corrosion. It is protected by an oxide layer on its surface.
The thickness of this oxide layer can be increased by anodising.
i) State a use of aluminium due to its resistance to corrosion.
[1]
ii) Anodising is an electrolytic process. Dilute sulfuric acid is electrolysed with an aluminium object as the anode. The
thickness of the oxide layer is increased.

Complete the equations for the reactions at the aluminium anode.

.......OH– → O2 + 2H2O + ......e–

....Al + ......... → ......... Al2O3

[4]
[5 marks]

Page 3 of 18

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Question 2a
Extended Only
During electrolysis, ions move in the electrolyte and electrons move in the external circuit.
Reactions occur at the electrodes.
The diagram shows the electrolysis of molten lithium iodide.

i) Draw an arrow on the diagram to show the direction of the electron flow in the external circuit.
[1]

ii) Electrons are supplied to the external circuit. How and where is this done?
[2]

iii) Explain why solid lithium iodide does not conduct electricity but when molten it is a good conductor.
[1]

Page 4 of 18

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[4 marks]

Question 2b
Extended Only
The results of experiments on electrolysis are shown in the following table.
Complete the table. The first line has been done as an example.

electrolyte electrodes product at cathode product at anode change to electrolyte

molten lithium iodide carbon lithium iodine used up
aqueous copper (II)
platinum oxygen
sulfate
concentrated aqueous
carbon chlorine
potassium chloride

[4]
[4 marks]

Page 5 of 18

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Question 2c
The diagram below shows the electrolysis of dilute sulfuric acid. Hydrogen is formed at the negative electrode (cathode)
and oxygen at the positive electrode (anode) and the concentration of sulfuric acid increases.

The ions present in the dilute acid are H+ (aq), OH– (aq) and SO42– (aq).

i) Write an equation for the reaction at the negative electrode (cathode).

[2]
ii) Complete the equation for the reaction at the positive electrode (anode).
4OH– (aq) → O2 (g) + .....H2O (l) + .......
[1]
iii) Suggest an explanation of why the concentration of the sulfuric acid increases.
[1]
[4 marks]

Page 6 of 18

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Question 3a
The electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride, between inert electrodes, is used to make four important
chemicals.
hydrogen
chlorine
sodium hydroxide
sodium chlorate(I)
The ions present in the electrolyte are Na+, H+, Cl– and OH–
i) Hydrogen ions are discharged at the negative electrode (cathode).

Write an equation for this reaction.

[2]
ii) The hydrogen ions are from the water.

H2O ⇌ H+ + OH–
Suggest an explanation why the concentration of hydroxide ions increases.
[2]
iii) When a dilute solution of sodium chloride is used, chlorine is not formed at the positive electrode (anode), a
different gas is produced. Name this gas.

[1]
iv) State an example of an inert electrode.
[1]
[6 marks]

Page 7 of 18

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Question 3b
i) State a use of hydrogen.
[1]
ii) Why is chlorine used to treat the water supply?

[1]
[2 marks]

Question 4
Extended Only
The results of experiments on electrolysis using inert electrodes are given in the table.

Complete the table; the first line has been completed as an example.

change at negative change at positive

electrolyte change to electrolyte
electrode electrode
molten lead(II) bromide lead formed bromine formed used up
potassium formed iodine formed used up
dilute aqueous sodium
chloride
aqueous copper(II) sulfate
potassium hydroxide
hydrogen formed bromine formed
formed

[8]
[8 marks]

Page 8 of 18

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Question 5a
Copper has the structure of a typical metal. It has a lattice of positive ions and a “sea” of mobile electrons. The lattice can
accommodate ions of a different metal.
Give a different use of copper that depends on each of the following.
i) The ability of the ions in the lattice to move past each other
[1]
ii) The presence of mobile electrons
[1]

iii) The ability to accommodate ions of a different metal in the lattice

[1]
[3 marks]

Question 5b
Aqueous copper(II) sulphate solution can be electrolysed using carbon electrodes. The ions present in the solution are as
follows.
Cu2+ SO42– H+ OH–
i) Write an ionic equation for the reaction at the negative electrode (cathode).
[1]
ii) A colourless gas was given off at the positive electrode (anode) and the solution changes from blue to colourless.
Explain these observations.
[2]
[3 marks]

Page 9 of 18

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Question 5c
Aqueous copper(II) sulphate can be electrolysed using copper electrodes. The reaction at the negative electrode is the
same but the positive electrode becomes smaller and the solution remains blue.
i) Write a word equation for the reaction at the positive electrode.
[1]
ii) Explain why the colour of the solution does not change.
[1]
iii) What is the large scale use of this electrolysis?
[1]
[3 marks]

Question 6a
Separate: Chemistry and Extended Only
Zinc is extracted from zinc blende, ZnS.
Zinc blende is heated in air to give zinc oxide and sulfur dioxide. Most of the sulfur dioxide is used to make sulfur trioxide.
This is used to manufacture sulfuric acid. Some of the acid is used in the plant, but most of it is used to make fertilisers.
i) Describe how sulfur dioxide is converted into sulfur trioxide.
[3]
ii) Name a fertiliser made from sulphuric acid.
[1]
[4 marks]

Page 10 of 18

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Question 6b
Extended Only
The remaining zinc oxide reacts with sulfuric acid to give aqueous zinc sulfate. This is electrolysed with inert electrodes
(the electrolysis is the same as that of copper(II) sulfate with inert electrodes).

Ions present: Zn2+ (aq) SO42- (aq) H+ (aq) OH- (aq)

i) Zinc forms at the negative electrode (cathode). Write the equation for this reaction.
[1]
ii) Write the equation for the reaction at the positive electrode (anode).
[2]
iii) The electrolyte changes from aqueous zinc sulfate to .............................. .
[1]
[4 marks]

Question 6c
Extended Only
Give two uses of zinc.
[2 marks]

Page 11 of 18

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Question 7a
Molten potassium bromide can be electrolysed.
Predict the products of this electrolysis at:
the anode
the cathode
[2 marks]

Question 7b
Electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride using inert electrodes forms chlorine, hydrogen and sodium
hydroxide.
What is meant by the term electrolysis?
[2 marks]

Question 7c
Name a substance that can be used as the inert electrodes.
[1 mark]

Question 7d
Extended Only
Write an ionic half-equation for the formation of hydrogen during this electrolysis.
[1 mark]

Page 12 of 18

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Question 7e
Extended Only
Give the formulae of the four ions present in concentrated aqueous sodium chloride.
[2 marks]

Question 7f
Extended Only
Explain how sodium hydroxide is formed during this electrolysis.
[2 marks]

Page 13 of 18

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Question 8a
When concentrated hydrochloric acid is electrolysed, gases are produced at the electrodes.

The incomplete apparatus is shown.

Complete the diagram by:

labelling the anode and cathode
showing how the gases are collected.
[2 marks]

Page 14 of 18

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Question 8b
Extended Only
When concentrated hydrochloric acid is electrolysed, gases are produced at the electrodes.

The incomplete apparatus is shown.

Predict the products of this electrolysis at the:

positive electrode:
negative electrode:
[2 marks]

Page 15 of 18

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Question 8c
When concentrated hydrochloric acid is electrolysed, gases are produced at the electrodes.

The incomplete apparatus is shown.

Graphite (carbon) electrodes are used in this electrolysis.

Suggest one other element that can be used as an electrode and give a reason, other than that it can conduct electricity.
element:
reason:
[2 marks]

Page 16 of 18

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Question 8d
Extended Only
When concentrated hydrochloric acid is electrolysed, gases are produced at the electrodes.

The incomplete apparatus is shown.

Hydrogen chloride is produced when chlorine reacts with hydrogen.

Complete the chemical equation for this reaction.

Cl2 + .......... → .....HCl
[2 marks]

Page 17 of 18

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Question 8e
Predict the products of the electrolysis of molten aluminium oxide at:
the positive electrode ........................................
the negative electrode.......................................
[2 marks]

Page 18 of 18

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