Electrolysis (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Chemistry): Exam Questions

Exam code: 5070

6 hours72 questions
1
1 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 

2
1 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

    3
    1 mark

    The electrolysis of concentrated hydrochloric acid is shown.

    cie-igcse-5-1m-mcq3

    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.

    4
    1 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.

    5
    1 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

    6
    1 mark

    Which metal could not be used for electroplating by using an aqueous solution?

    • Chromium

    • Copper

    • Silver

    • Sodium

    7
    1 mark

    During electroplating what are the correct anode (positive electrode) and cathode (negative electrode) products when aqueous copper(II) sulfate is electrolysed using copper electrodes? 

     

    Anode product

    Cathode product

    A

    copper(II) ions

    copper metal

    B

    copper(II) ions

    hydrogen gas

    C

    oxygen gas

    copper metal

    D

    oxygen gas

    hydrogen gas

      8
      1 mark

      A student sets up the following equipment to investigate electroplating.

      4-2-5e-electroplating-with-silver

      What would they see occur during the electroplating process?

      • The anode would be covered with an orange-pink coating

      • The cathode would be covered with a silver coating

      • The cathode would be covered with an orange-pink coating

      • The anode would be covered with a silver coating

      1
      1 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.

      2
      1 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

        3
        1 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

          4
          1 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.

          5
          1 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+

            6
            1 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-

            7
            1 mark

            The diagram shows a failed attempt to copper-plate a pan.

            q1-4-2-medium-cie-igcse-chem

             

            Which can be done to plate the pan with copper?

            • Cool the copper sulfate solution in an ice bath.

            • Heat the copper sulfate solution to boiling point.

            • Increase the voltage from 3 V to 6 V.

            • Make the pan the cathode and the copper the anode.

            8
            1 mark

            The diagram shows a simple cell.

            q3-4-2-medium-cie-igcse-chemistry

            Which statement about the process occurring when the cell is in operation is correct?

            • Cu2+ ions are formed in solution.

            • Electrons travel through the solution.

            • The reaction Zn  →  Zn2+ +  2e occurs.

            • The zinc electrode increases in mass

            9
            1 mark

            A students wants to electroplate an iron spoon with silver using an aqueous silver salt as the electrolyte. 

            Which set of conditions is used?

             

            Iron spoon

            Other electrode 

            A

            cathode

            silver

            B

            anode

            silver

            C

            cathode

            carbon

            D

            anode

            carbon

              10
              1 mark

              An aqueous mixture of copper(II) nitrate and silver nitrate is electrolysed with pure copper electrodes.

              Which half-equation correctly describes the change occurring at the anode?

              • Cu → Cu2+ + 2e

              • Cu2+ + 2e → Cu

              • Ag →  Ag+ + e

              • Ag+ + e  → Ag

              11
              1 mark

              The diagram shows the electrolysis of concentrated and dilute aqueous sodium chloride using inert electrodes. Gases are produced and collected in each of the test-tubes W, X, Y and Z.

              q14-cie-o-level-chemistry-june-2021-paper-1

              Which statements are correct?

              1. Approximately equal volumes of gas are produced and collected in test-tubes W and X.

              2. Approximately equal volumes of gas are produced and collected in test-tubes Y and Z.

              3. Three different gases are produced in the experiment.

              • 1, 2 and 3

              • 1 and 2 only 

              • 2 and 3 only 

              • 1 and 3 only

              12
              1 mark

              Which positive ions are present in aqueous copper(II) sulfate?

              • copper(II) ions only

              • copper(II) ions and hydrogen ions

              • sulfate ions only

              • sulfate ions and hydroxide ions

              13
              1 mark

              Which reactions take place during the extraction of aluminium from aluminium oxide using carbon electrodes?

              1. 2O2–  → O2 + 4e

              2. C + O2 → CO2

              3. Al2+ + 2e  → Al

              • 1 only 

              • 1 and 2 only 

              • 2 and 3 only

              • 1, 2 and 3

              14
              1 mark

              Carbon electrodes are used to electrolyse aqueous copper(II) sulfate.

              Which observations are made?

               

              at the anode

              electrolyte

              at the cathode

              A

              colourless gas forms

              blue colour fades

              pink solid forms

              B

              colourless gas forms

              blue colour fades

              colourless gas forms

              C

              electrode increases in mass

              blue colour fades

              pink solid forms

              D

              electrode increases in mass

              no change

              pink solid forms

                15
                1 mark

                Electrolysis is used to plate a metal coin with silver.

                The coin is used as an electrode in a suitable electrolyte.

                Which row is correct?

                 

                coin

                electrolyte

                A

                anode

                AgCl(aq)

                B

                anode

                AgNO3(aq)

                C

                cathode

                AgCl(aq)

                D

                cathode

                AgNO3(aq)

                  1
                  1 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

                    2
                    1 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.

                    3
                    1 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

                    4
                    1 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-

                    5
                    1 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 

                    6
                    1 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 

                    7
                    1 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

                    8
                    1 mark

                    A student wishes to electroplate an object with copper.

                    Which row is correct?

                     

                    object is made at the

                    a suitable electrolyte is

                    A

                    anode

                    CuO(s)

                    B

                    anode

                    CuSO4(aq)

                    C

                    cathode

                    CuO(s)

                    D

                    cathode

                    CuSO4(aq)

                      9
                      1 mark

                      Winston Churchill, a British Prime Minister, had his false teeth electroplated with gold.

                      The teeth were coated with a thin layer of carbon and were then placed in the apparatus shown.

                      q2-4-2-hard-cie-igcse-chemistry

                       

                      terminal X is

                      the carbon powder could be

                      A

                      negative

                      diamond

                      B

                      negative

                      graphite

                      C

                      positive

                      diamond

                      D

                      positive

                       graphite

                        10
                        1 mark

                        The diagram shows an electrolysis experiment using X and Y as electrodes. 

                        4-2-q3-cie-igcse-mcq-electroplating-with-copper

                        Copper is used to coat the other metal. 

                        Which metal becomes coated and which solution is used?

                         

                        aqueous solution

                        metal

                        A

                        CoCl3

                        Y

                        B

                        CuCl2

                        Y

                        C

                        CuCl2

                        X

                        D

                        CoCl3

                        X

                          11
                          1 mark

                          The following apparatus for plating a spoon with silver is shown. 

                          4-2-q5-cie-igcse-mcq-electroplating-of-a-spoon

                          Which statements are correct?

                          1  The metal electrode would be connected to the negative terminal of the power supply

                          2  The spoon would be connected to the negative terminal of the power supply

                          3  At the cathode, silver ions lose electrons to form silver atoms

                          4  At the anode, silver atoms lose electrons to form silver ions 

                          • 2 only 

                          • 1 and 4 only 

                          • 2 and 4 only 

                          • 1, 2 and 3