Effect of an electric current on substances Questions
1. The set-up was used to electrolyse Lead (II) bromide. Study it and answer the questions
that follow;
(a) Write an ionic equation for the reaction that occurred at the cathode
(b) State and explain what happened at the anode
2. When an electric current was passed through two molten substances E and F in separate
voltammeters. The observations recorded below were made:-
Substance | Observation | Type of structure |
E | Conducts electric current and a gas is formed at one of the electrodes |
|
F | Conducts an electric current and is not decomposed |
|
Complete the table above
3. (a) Differentiate the following terms :-
Electrolyte and non-electrolyte
(b) The diagram below is a set-up used to investigate the conductivity of electric current
by some aqueous solution. Study it and answer the questions that follow;
(i) State the observation made on the bulb when each of the following solution were put
onto the beaker
(a) Sugar solution
(b) (i) Salt solution
(ii) Classify the substance in (i) above as either electrolyte or non-electrolyte
(b) If in the above set-up of apparatus, the substance to be tested is Lead II Bromide,
what modification should be included in the set-up?
(c) Write an Ionic equation at the electrodes and state the observation:-
Anode
4. (a) The diagram below shows the set up used to investigate the effect of an electric current
on molten lead (II) bromide
i. Explain what happens to the lead II bromide during electrolysis
ii. Why is it important to carry out the experiment in a fume chamber?
5. (I) Define the following terms:
(a) Crystallization
(b) (i) Salting out as used in soap making
(ii) Starting with barium carbonate solid, dilute sulphuric acid and dilute nitric acid,
describe how you would prepare dry barium sulphate solid
(iii) Study the scheme below and answer the questions which follow:
(a) Identify
(i) The cation present in solid S
(ii) The anion in solid S
(b) Write an equation to show how solid S is heated in process T
(iv) Copper II chloride solution dissolves in excess ammonia solution to form a deep blue
solution. Give the ion responsible for the deep blue solution
(v) A solution of hydrogen chloride is an electrolyte but a solution of hydrogen chloride in
methylbenzene in a non-electrolyte. Explain
6. (i) State Faraday’s first law of electrolysis
(ii) The diagram below shows a set-up used for the electrolysis of molten Lead bromide:-
State the observations that would be made at the anode and cathode as the electrolysis progressed
7. (a) (i) Describe how you would prepare pure crystals of lead II nitrate in the laboratory from
lead II oxide
(ii) Write an equation for the reaction that takes place in (a)(i) above
(b) (i) State what happens when lead II nitrate is strongly heated
(ii) Write an equation for the reaction in b(i) above
(c) (i) State what is observed when ammonia solution is gradually added to a solution of
lead II nitrate until the alkali is in excess
(ii) Write an ionic equation for the reaction that takes place in (i) above
8. The diagram show an experiment for investigating electrical conduction in lead (II) fluoride. Study it and answer the questions that follow:




(a) On the diagram
(i) Label the anode and the cathode
(ii) Show the direction of movement of electrons
(iii) Complete the diagram by indicating the condition that is missing but must be present for
electrical conduction to take place.
(b) Why is it necessary to leave a gap between the cork and the boiling tube?
(c) State the observations that are expected at the electrodes during electrical conduction and
at the experiment
(d) Write equations for the reactions that take place at the electrodes
(e) Why should this experiment be carried out in a fume chamber?
II. The table below shows the electrical conductivity of substance A, B and C
Substance | Solid state | Molten state | Aqueous solution |
A | Conducts | Conducts | Not soluble |
B | Doesn’t conduct | Conducts | Conducts |
C | Doesn’t conduct | Doesn’t conduct | Not soluble |
(a) Which one of the substance is likely to be plastic?
(b) Explain why the substance you have given in (a) above behaves in the way it does
(c) Which of the substances is likely to be sodium chloride? Explain
(d) Give the type of structure and bonding that is present in substance A
9. Study the diagram below and use it to answer the questions that follow:-
(a) Identify electrodes A and B
(b) Name the product formed at the anode
(c) Write the electrode half equation of reaction at electrode A
10. Explain the differences in electrical conductivity between melted sodium chloride and
liquid mercury
11. Below is part of a flow diagram for the contact process:
(a) Name :
I. Liquid Y ……………………………………………………….
II. Liquid N………………………………………………………….
(b) Write the equation for the reaction taking place in;
I. Chamber Q
II. Chamber R
12. In an experiment to investigate the conductivity of substances, a student used the set-up shown
below.
The student noted that the bulb did not light.
a) What had been omitted in the set up.
b) Explain why the bulb lights when the omission is corrected.
Effect of an electric current on substances Answers
1. (a) Pb2+(l) 2e–n Pb(s)
(b) – There is liberation of brown vapour
– The brown vapour is due to the formation of bromine molecule
2. E – Giant ionic structure
F – Giant metallic structure
3. (a) – Electrolytes are melts or acqueous solutions which allow electric current to pass
through them and are decomposed by it while non-electrolyte are melts or acqueous
solution which do not conduct electric current
– Electrolytes contain mobrite ions while non-electrolyte contains molecules.
(c) (i) I bulb did not light when sugar solution was put into the beaker
II bulb light when slat solution was put into the beaker
(ii) Non- electrolyte I
Electrolyte II
(b) (i) heating
(ii) Cathode
Pb24 + 2e– Pb(s) grey deposit metal is observed
(iii) Anode
2Br–(aq) Br2(g) + 2e–
A brown yellow gas is evolved
4. a) i) Decomposes to Pb2+ and ions which are later reduced to Pb and are oxidized to Br
ii) Br2(g) produced is poisonous
5. I (a) Crystallization – The solidifying of a salt form a saturated solution on cooling.
(b) Addition of sodium chloride to soap-glycerol mixture in order to precipitate the soap.
II– to the nitric acid in a beaker, add barium carbonate solid as you stir until effervescence stops.
– Filter to obtain the filtrate
– Add dilute nitric acid to the filtrate and filter to obtain the residue
– Dry the residue under the sun or between filter papers.
III (a) (i) K+
(ii) NO3
(b) 2KNO3(s) 2KNO2(s) + O2(g)
(IV) Cu(NH3)4
(V) In water HCL ionizes into mobile into mobile ions which conduct because water is polar
while methyl is non-polar hence HCl does not ionize hence does not conduct electricity
6. (i) Faraday first low of electrolysis.
The mass of a substance dissolved on liberated in electrolysis is proportional to the quantity
of electricity which passes through the electrolyte.
(ii) (anode) – Brown/fumes of a gas were evolved (cathode) – grey beads.
7 a) (i) Place elilute nitric acid (HNO3) in a beaker and warm.
- Add lead II oxide until no more dissolves
- Filter the un reacted lead II oxide
- Heat to evapourae & leave to crystallize.
(ii)Pbos+ 2HNO3aq pb(No3)2 aq + H2On
b)(i) Crystals crack and split because of the gas accumulating inside
- Brown gas of Nitrogen IV oxide.
- Solid resolute, lead II oxide which is orange when hot is yellow when cold.
(ii) 2 pb(NO3)2s 2 Pbos + o2(g) + 4NO2(g)
c) (iii) white precipitate which is incolible is excess ammonia
(iv) pb24
aq + 20H–aq pb (oH) 2 (s)
8. (a)
(b) To let the gas produce out, so that it does not explode due to pressure.
(e) At the anode a pale yellow gas is observed
Cathode – grey solid is formed.
(d) Anode 2F–(c) F2(g), e 2e–
Cathode pb24
l + 2e– pb (s)
(e) the gas produce is poisonous.
II a) C
b) Because it does not conduct electricity in solid state and not soluble.
c) B because it does not conducts electricity in solid state but in molten or aqueous solution
it conducts.
d) Metallic bond.
9. a) A is Anode √1
B is cathode. √1
b) Bromine gas. √1
c) 2Br-1(l) – 2e– Br2(g) √1
10. B and D or F2 and Ne
11. a) i) olcum
ii) Water
b) i) SO3 (g) + H2S)4(L) _______ H2S2O7(L)
ii) H2S2O7(L) + H2O(L) ______ 2H2SO4(
12. a) Source of heat. 1
b) The solid PbBr2 melts to form Pb2+ ½ and 2 Br–½ that conduct electric current in the
circuit hence the bulb lights/Pb2+ and 2Br– carry the current. 1

