Electrolysis: JAMB Chemistry Past Questions and Answers

What the JAMB syllabus covers in Electrolysis

Our summary: Electrolytes, Faraday's laws, what forms at the electrodes, uses of electrolysis, electrochemical cells and corrosion.

• Electrolytes and non-electrolytes
• Faraday's laws of electrolysis
• Electrolysis of dilute H₂SO₄, aqueous CuSO₄, CuCl₂ solution, dilute and concentrated NaCl solutions and fused NaCl
• Factors affecting discharge of ions at the electrodes
• Uses of electrolysis (Purification of metals e.g. copper and production of elements and compounds (Al, Na, O₂, Cl₂ and NaOH).)
• Electrochemical cells (Electrochemical series (K, Ca, Na, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb, H, Cu, Hg, Ag, Au), half-cell reactions and electrode potentials (simple calculations only).)
• Corrosion as an electrolytic process, cathodic protection of metals, painting, electroplating and coating with grease or oil as ways of preventing iron from corrosion

Objectives

• distinguish between electrolytes and non-electrolytes;
• perform calculations based on faraday as mole of electrons;
• identify suitable electrodes for different electrolytes;
• specify the chemical reactions at the electrodes;
• determine the products at the electrodes;
• identify the factors that affect the products of electrolysis;
• specify the different areas of application of electrolysis;
• state the significance of electrochemical series;
• identify the various electrochemical cells;
• calculate electrode potentials using half-cell reaction equations;
• determine the different areas of application of electrolytic processes; and
• identify methods used in protecting metals.

Syllabus content © The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (UTME).