Chem Lab 1

1. What is the use of adding baking soda to the water before the electrolysis?
How does it
work?
 Water is a poor conductor of electricity, adding baking soda to form an electrolyte
solution, making the solution conductive, allowing the current to flow through the
water between the terminals of the battery. Baking soda in the water allows
electricity to flow between the two metal tips of the pushpins so now you set them
on the leads and the electricity can flow between the pushpins
2. Which of the test tubes is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery?
Why?
 The oxygen tube is connected to the anode (positive terminal) and the Hydrogen tube is
connected to the cathode (negative terminal). The water then connects these terminals, so
energy can flow between them. H+ ions are attracted to the cathode and pick up
electrons to form hydrogen gas. OH ions are attracted to the anode, lose electrons and
form oxygen gas. Oxygen collects at the positively charged electrode (anode) and
hydrogen at the negatively charged electrode (cathode).
3. Comparing the volumes of the gases produced in the test tubes, which is produced in
greater
amounts? By how much? What scientific principle relates the moles of gases produced to its
volume? *
 With the process of electrolysis, 2 gas were formed such as; hydrogen and oxygen. The
amount of hydrogen gas produced were in greater amount rather than the oxygen gas
produced, having the ratio 2:1, since water is composed of 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1
atom of oxygen, therefore the amount of hydrogen is double than the oxygen. The two
electrodes collect in hydrogen and oxygen separately, therefore, the volume of gas
collected in one electrode is double the volume of gas collected in the other electrode.
 This can be explained by the concept of Avogadro’s law in which the volume (V) of an
ideal gas varies directly with the number of moles of the gas (n) ehen the pressure (P) and
the number of temperature (T) are constant.
 A plot of the effect of temperature on the volume of a gas at constant pressure shows
that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the number of moles of that gas. This
is stated as Avogadro's law
 this can be explained with the ideal gas law (pV=nRT)
 Oxygen: VO2=1 mol RT/p (I)
 Hydrogen: VH2= 2 mol RT/p (II) Dividing (I)/(II) VO2/VH2= 1/2 So VH2= 2 VO
4. What chemical properties of gases identify each of them in the splinter’s test? Explain.
 The chemical property that identify the gases is the inflamability of both gasses. It is well
known that Hydrogen is inflammable, while oxygen does not. Hydrogen reacts with the
flame and lighted splint goes out with a squeaky pop, on the other hand oxygen relights
the glowing splint.
 Hydrogen (H2) when a burning splint is introduced to a sample of pure hydrogen gas, it
will burn with a popping sound.
 When the glowing splint is introduced to the test tube, it bursts back into flame when it
contacts the oxygen
5. The decomposition of water into gases requires an input of electrical energy. Is the process
endothermic or exothermic? Why? Explain.
 The process is not spontaneous, and it requires energy in the form of electricity to be
done. But the process of the electrolysis of the water, energy is freed so it means that the
reaction is exothermic because the temperature increases during the process, so heat is
freed to the surroundings.
 During electrolysis, heat is added to the water and absorbed by the water to produce
oxygen and hydrogen, so the reaction is endothermic reaction.
6. Explain the role of the surroundings in nonspontaneous reactions of the system. *

 Non-spontaneous reactions do not occur by themselves, but require heat, light, or
energy input to initiate the reaction. This reaction is an endothermic process (the
system absorbs energy from its surroundings). Therefore, the role of the environment
in involuntary responses is important, as the response cannot occur without the
involvement of the environment. Or we can say that involuntary reactions are
dependent on the environment. In summary, the environment is key to the success
of the reaction.
7. Is temperature a factor in the efficiency of the process of electrolysis? Is the temperature

related to the voltage input in the process? Explain descriptively and mathematically. *
 Temperature is one of the most important variables in the electrolysis, because the
efficiency increases with increasing the temperature. The effectiveness of electrolysis is
increased by the incorporation of electro catalysts and the presence of baking soda
containing electrolytes. However, electrolysis is also strongly influenced by
temperature. High temperatures greatly reduce the amount of potential energy required
to produce the same amount of hydrogen, thus making the process more efficient. As
the temperature rises, the voltage drops dramatically and the current changes. In
summary, there is an inverse relationship between the two (voltage decreases as
temperature increases).
8. State the Faraday’s Law. How does this law help the work of the machines in the production
of the products? *
 Faraday's First Law states that the chemical effect produced by the current at the
electrodes during electrolysis is proportional to the amount of electricity passed. The
amount of electricity is directly proportional to the chemical equivalent. This helps
calculate how a time-varying magnetic field interacts with an electrical circuit to
produce an electromotive force.

 By utilizing the principle of Faraday's Law, we can help machines such as
transformers that supply power to one of the coils of a transformer (the primary
coil) and induce an electromotive force in the other coil. There are also
important applications of Faraday's law used in generators rotated by external
means such as wind turbines. Then, in the presence of the magnetic field,
the armature also starts rotating with the shaft. Then we get the induced emf as
the output of the armature
9. Give at least one application of this process in the engineering field.

 This process is useful for the production of Hydrogen and oxygen for rockets fuel,
and it is also used for the production of Cl2 to be used in the industry, making
electrolysis in a NaCl solution known as brine.
 Manufacturing of Chemicals
 The electrolytic process is also used for manufacturing of various
chemicals. When an electric current is passed through the solution of
some compound, the compound gets breakdown into its constituent
components which are liberated at the anode and cathode, which in turn
can be collected.
 Electroplating
 An electrolytic process in which a metal is deposited over any metallic or
non-metallic surface is called the electroplating. Electroplating is usually
used to protect the metals from corrosion by atmospheric air and
moisture.
The process of electrolysis, allows water to separate to hydrogen and oxygen gas/bubbles, those
then have to do work, because they expand against the atmosphere so work is done therefore we
have a positive quantity in P delta V (3.70kj) done by the system
T delta S temperature and entrophy
Delta H = enthalphy
Delta U = change in internal energy
Conclusion
With the process of electrolysis of water hydrogen gas is produced at the cathode, whereas
oxygen gas is produced at the anode. However this process cannot occur if only pure water is
going to used, an electrolyte must be added so that water will be conductive since it’s a very poor
conductor, adding baking soda to the water helps to produce an electrolyte solution making the
process possible. Electrolysis allows the splitting of the water molecule into hydrogen and
oxygen
Generalization
 Electrolysis of water allows the separation of water to its components hydrogen
and oxygen and for that to happen, water must mix with something like salt or
baking soda for it to become an electrolyte solution allowing electricity in the
water to flow since pure water will not carry enough charge due to the lack of
ions and make this process possible.

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1. What is the use of adding baking soda to the water before the electrolysis?

6. Explain the role of the surroundings in nonspontaneous reactions of the system. *

7. Is temperature a factor in the efficiency of the process of electrolysis? Is the temperature

9. Give at least one application of this process in the engineering field.

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