Electrolysis

• Stage 1

  • pour approximately 50 cm^3 of copper chloride solution into a beaker
  • place a plastic petri dish over the beaker
  • the dish should have two holes to insert the carbon graphite rods (the electrodes)
• Stage 2

  • attach crocodile clips to the rods
  • connect the rods to the terminals of a low-voltage power supply
• Stage 3

  • turn on the power supply and observe the electrodes
  • at the cathode (negative), it is being coated with copper
  • if the metal is less reactive than hydrogen, it is discharged at the cathode
  • at the anode (positive)
  • the bubbles of a gas are visible
  • if electrolysis is carried out on an aqueous solution that contains a halide ion then the halogen is discharged at the anode