CIE IGCSE Chemistry

Topic Questions

4.1 Electrolysis

11 mark

A student was investigating the electrolysis of zinc chloride. 

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What is the correct reason for electrolysis not working? 

  • Solid zinc chloride has been used 

  • The electrodes don't conduct electricity 

  • The power supply is not connected properly 

  • The crucible is too small to allow ions to flow 

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21 mark

Solid lead(II) bromide is heated until it is molten. The molten lead (II) bromide then undergoes electrolysis. 

Which substances are formed at each electrode?

  anode cathode
A bromine lead
B lead bromine
C bromine hydrogen
D hydrogen lead

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31 mark

The electrolysis of concentrated hydrochloric acid is shown.

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Which statement describes what happens to the electrons during the electrolysis?

  • They are added to chloride ions.

  • They are added to hydrogen ions.

  • They move through the circuit from negative to positive.

  • They move through the solution from negative to positive.

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41 mark

Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride can be electrolysed.

Which statement is correct?

  • Hydrogen gas is formed at the anode, and chlorine gas is formed at the cathode.

  • Hydrogen gas is formed at the cathode, and chlorine gas is formed at the anode.

  • Sodium metal is formed at the anode, and chlorine gas is formed at the cathode.

  • Sodium metal is formed at the cathode, and chlorine gas is formed at the anode.

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51 mark

The diagram shows the electrolysis of concentrated hydrochloric acid and concentrated aqueous sodium chloride using carbon electrodes.

q5-4-1-easy-cie-igcse-chemistry

At which electrode(s) is hydrogen produced?

  • Electrode 1 only

  • Electrodes 1 and 3

  • Electrode 2 only

  • Electrodes 2 and 4

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11 mark

The diagram shows the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride.

q1-4-3-hard-cie-igcse-chemistry

What is the colour of the litmus at each electrode after five minutes?

  colour at anode colour at cathode
A blue red
B red blue
C red colourless
D colourless blue

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21 mark

Four substances are electrolysed. The substances are concentrated aqueous sodium chloride, concentrated hydrochloric acid, molten lead(II) bromide and molten sodium oxide.

Which statement about these electrolysis reactions is correct?

  • A colourless gas is formed at the anode when molten sodium oxide is electrolysed.

  • A green gas is formed at the cathode when concentrated hydrochloric acid is electrolysed.

  • A metal is formed at the anode when molten lead(II) bromide is electrolysed.

  • A metal is formed at the cathode when concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is  electrolysed.

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31 mark

Four solutions are separately electrolysed.

experiment solution electrodes
1 dilute aqueous sodium chloride carbon
2 aqueous copper(II) sulfate copper
3 concentrated hydrochloric acid carbon
4 dilute sulfuric acid carbon

In which two experiments is a colourless gas evolved at the anode?

  • 1 & 2

  • 1 & 4

  • 2 & 3

  • 3 & 4

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41 mark

During electrolysis of brine, a gas is produced at the cathode. What is the half-equation for the reaction on the cathode?

  • 2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e-

  • 2Cl- + 2e- → Cl2

  • 2H+ + 2e- → H2

  • 2H+ → H2 + 2e-

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51 mark

The amount of gases P and Q are formed when substance X is electrolysed. 

4-1-q9-cie-igcse-mcq-volume-of-gases-during-electrolysis

What is substance X?

  • molten zinc bromide 

  • dilute sulfuric acid 

  • concentrated aqueous sodium bromide

  • concentrated hydrochloric acid 

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61 mark

Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride, dilute sulfuric acid and molten lead bromide were electrolysed separately in experiments 1, 2 and 3. 

4-1-q10-cie-igcse-mcq-three-electrolysis-experiments

Which statement about the electrode products is correct?

  • Metals were formed at the anode in experiments 1 and 3 only 

  • Metals were formed at the cathode in experiments 1 and 3 only

  • Gases are given off at the cathode in experiments 1 and 2 only 

  • Gases are given off at the anode in experiments 2 and 3 only 

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71 mark

A student wants to identify the gas produced at the negative electrode during the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride. 

4-1-q11-cie-igcse-mcqgas-tests-for-products

What is the correct test for the gas produced?

  • A glowing splint will relight

  • A burning splint gives a squeaky pop sound

  • Damp litmus paper bleaches

  • Damp red litmus paper turns blue

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11 mark

Which statement about electrolysis is correct?

  • Electrons move through the electrolyte from the cathode to the anode.

  • Electrons move towards the cathode in the external circuit.

  • Negative ions move towards the anode in the external circuit.

  • Positive ions move through the electrolyte towards the anode during electrolysis.

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21 mark

Dilute sulfuric acid is electrolysed using inert electrodes. 

What are the products of this electrolysis?

  cathode anode
A oxygen sulfur 
B hydrogen sulfur dioxide
C oxygen hydrogen
D hydrogen oxygen

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31 mark

Electricity is passed through concentrated aqueous sodium chloride. Inert electrodes are used.

q3-4-1-medium-cie-igcse-chemistry

Which products are formed at the electrodes?

  cathode anode
A hydrogen chlorine
B hydrogen oxygen
C sodium chlorine
D sodium oxygen

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41 mark

The diagram shows the electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulfate.

cie-igcse-5-1h-mcq4

Which statement is correct?

  • Copper metal is deposited at the positive electrode.

  • In the external circuit the electrons move from negative to positive.

  • In the solution the electrons move from positive to negative.

  • Oxygen gas is produced at the positive electrode.

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51 mark

Concentrated aqueous potassium bromide solution is electrolysed using inert electrodes. The ions present in the solution are K+, Br, H+ and OH.

To which electrodes are the ions attracted during this electrolysis?

  attracted to anode attracted to cathode
A Br and K+ H+ and OH
B Br and OH H+ and K+
C H+ and K+ Br and OH
D H+ and OH Br and K+

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61 mark

Which is the correct equation for the formation of chlorine gas at the anode during the electrolysis of concentrated sodium chloride solution?

  • Cl + e- → Cl-

  • 2Cl- + 2e- → Cl2

  • 2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e-

  • Cl- → Cl + e-

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