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SingaporeChemistryQuick questions
Electrolysis
Quick questions on Uses of electrolysis and electroplating: N(A)-Level Chemistry
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are extracting reactive metals?Show answer
Metals more reactive than carbon, such as aluminium and sodium, cannot be extracted by heating their ores with carbon. Instead they are obtained by electrolysis of their molten compounds. This is the main industrial use of electrolysis and the only practical way to win these reactive metals.
What is purifying copper?Show answer
Copper for electrical wiring must be very pure. Impure copper is purified by electrolysis: pure copper is deposited on the cathode while the impurities drop away. This gives the high-purity copper that good electrical conductors need.
What is electroplating?Show answer
Electroplating is using electrolysis to put a thin layer of one metal onto the surface of another object. The object is made the cathode, and the electrolyte is a solution of the metal you want to coat with. We electroplate to:
What is q1?Show answer
State whether an object to be electroplated is connected as the cathode or the anode. [1 mark]
What is q2?Show answer
Give two reasons why an object might be electroplated. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why aluminium is extracted using electrolysis instead of heating its ore with carbon. [2 marks]
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