Electrolysis

• Electrolysis of copper chloride solution

  1. pour 50cm3 of copper chloride solution into a beaker
  2. place a plastic petri dish with 2 holes over the beaker
  3. insert carbon electrodes into the solution
  4. use wires and crocodile clips to attach electrodes to a power supply
  5. copper discharged at cathode as it is less reactive than hydrogen
  6. chlorine gas discharged at the anode as it is a halogen
• What is discharged at the anode?

  oxygen unless a halogen is present
• What is discharged at the cathode?

  hydrogen unless there is a less reactive metal
• What is the test for chlorine?

  damp blue litmus paper bleaches if present