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ELECTROLYSIS of SODIUM SULFATE SOLUTION

Prepare a very concentrated (it need not be saturated) solution of sodium sulfate in water. Add a generous portion of bromothymol blue solution to the aqueous sodium sulfate solution. If necessary add either some sulfuric acid solution or some sodium hydroxide solution in order to keep the electrolyte light green in color. Sodium sulfate solution should color the indicator green (pH = 7). The addition of acid or base may be necessary to counteract local water and/or air conditions. Any DC power supply will work for this experiment. I try to use relatively inexpensive equipment, hence the electric train power supply that I use. I purchased the "hobby" store power supply for approximately $50.00. The minimal cost of this type of power supply may allow the school to use the money thus saved to buy other more expensive materials and consumable supplies. The electrodes for this experiment must be platinum. Many of the commercially available platinum electrodes look black. The black coating is a layer of finely divided platinum (platinum black) deposited on the electrodes in order to increase the surface area of the platinum and thus increase the current that can flow through the system. For this experiment the glassware must be very clean. I keep the Hoffman apparatus filled with distilled water until just before use. After the electrolysis has continued for sufficient time that measurable quantities of gas are produced, stop the reaction. Be careful when discussing the observations that you do not use terms that have not yet been defined in class. I collect (and keep separate) the observations that are made in each arm of the electrolysis (Hoffman) cell. Interpret the observations and on the blackboard write the balanced half-reactions for the processes that took place at each of the electrodes. I write the observations and equations for the LEFT part of the cell, and the RIGHT part of the cell as far apart on the front board as possible. On the basis of the observations and the equations that have been written by the students, ask them to predict the color that will be produced when the cell is inverted into the beaker that was originally used for filling the cell. The students will look at the two equations, and because they have not taken account of the different volumes of hydrogen and oxygen that are produced, they will predict that the resultant solution will be acidic and the indicator will turn yellow. Based on what has been written on the board this is the only prediction that can be made.

Pour the contents of the Hoffman apparatus back into the beaker. You must be very careful to get every drop of electrolyte back into the beaker. The reaction is very sensitive and the loss of only a drop of the electrolyte may have a very negative effect on the reaction results. The students are amazed that the resultant solution is green. Use the results of this reaction to define terms such as anode, cathode, oxidation and reduction. The idea that the number of electrons lost at the cathode and gained at the anode are equal will "fall" out of the experiment. Graphite (carbon) electrodes cannot be used in this experiment because the oxygen produced is adsorbed on the surface of the electrode (anode) and the net results will not show the quantitative 2:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen that is expected. See the S17 Science catalog for a very inexpensive Hoffman Apparatus. It is a small cell that can be used either for demonstrations or for class experiments. The choice of electrolytes and acid-base indicators is very limited. The pH of the solution must be 7.0, and the indicator must change through three colors, the middle one at pH 7.0.

In the past week, at the request of a colleague, I assembled a kit (EQ 444) of all the materials required to perform the ELECTRICAL CELLS demonstration experiment. The kit includes everything except the actual overhead projector. The contents of the kit (EQ 444) are: DC Power Supply DC Voltmeter (for the overhead projector) Transparent Electrolysis cell Graphite Electrodes and leads Copper(II) Chloride (solid). You will have to provide the distilled or deionized water and make up the solution. A complete set of Instructions and Graphics The cost of the kit (EQ 444) is $160 (US) or $220 (Canadian).........including shipping and taxes ALSO Available........... Complete kit to perform the ELECTROLYSIS of Sodium Sulfate Solution........... The contents of the kit (EQ 555) are: DC Power Supply Mini Hoffman Electrolysis Apparatus Platinum Electrodes and leads Sodium Sulfate (solid). You will have to provide the distilled or deionized water and make up the solution.

Indicator Solution A complete set of Instructions and Graphics The cost of the kit (EQ 555) is $195 (US) or $275 (Canadian).........including shipping and taxes Combination kit (EQ 666) to perform both of the electrolysis demonstrations The contents of the kit (EQ 666) are: DC Power Supply DC Voltmeter (for the overhead projector) Transparent Electrolysis cell Graphite Electrodes and leads Copper(II) Chloride (solid). You will have to provide the distilled or deionized water and make up the solution. Hoffman Apparatus Platinum Electrodes and leads Sodium Sulfate (solid). You will have to provide the distilled or deionized water and make up the solution. Indicator Solution A complete set of Instructions and Graphics for each demonstration The cost of the combined kit (EQ 666) is $290 (US) or $395 (Canadian).........including shipping and taxes The kits EQ 444, EQ 555, and EQ 666 can be ordered with prepayment by check or credit card, or on a School Purchase Order.

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