Chemistry HELP! - Electrolysis Question

Here is the question:

3. Mild Steel can be electroplated with tin in the laboratory.

The posotive electrode is made of Tin and the Negative electrode is made of steel.

The solution is Tin sulphate solution

a) Explain what happens at the negative electrode to deposit tin on the steel (3)
b) What happens to tin at the posotive electrode? (3)
C) Why does the concetration of the tin sulphate solution not change during the electrolysis (2)
d)Suggest 2 reaons why tin plated steel is used for food cans (2)

Thanks!
(I am so bad at chemistry)

Reply 1

Malsy

18

im shocked noone hasnt helped you yet...the amount of A* students on here is shocking yet noones stepped forward...sorry I cant answer your Q as I dont know it but Im sure all those intelligent people on here do...lets hope someone steps forward for you :biggrin:

Reply 2

Malsy

18

all I ca say is that the negative particles get attracted to the anode and the positive get attracted to the cathode but I dont know how in your Q....sowwi :biggrin:

Reply 3

woah

Yeah sorry I cant help you, I wouldnt mind knowing the answer as well!

Ah why is chem so difficult

Reply 4

nathanlowe

neomilan

Here is the question:

3. Mild Steel can be electroplated with tin in the laboratory.

The posotive electrode is made of Tin and the Negative electrode is made of steel.

The solution is Tin sulphate solution

a) Explain what happens at the negative electrode to deposit tin on the steel (3)
b) What happens to tin at the posotive electrode? (3)
C) Why does the concetration of the tin sulphate solution not change during the electrolysis (2)
d)Suggest 2 reaons why tin plated steel is used for food cans (2)

Thanks!
(I am so bad at chemistry)

Not the best at chemistry but id go with

The first two questions are about ionic bonding and when the negative and opposite attract. Its to do with losing electrons and gaining electrons to make full outer shells.

The concentration of the tin does not change because nothing is lost.

Tin plated tin used in food cans because - its strong and cheap

Reply 5

cari

1

neomilan

Here is the question:

3. Mild Steel can be electroplated with tin in the laboratory.

The posotive electrode is made of Tin and the Negative electrode is made of steel.

The solution is Tin sulphate solution

a) Explain what happens at the negative electrode to deposit tin on the steel (3)
b) What happens to tin at the posotive electrode? (3)
C) Why does the concetration of the tin sulphate solution not change during the electrolysis (2)
d)Suggest 2 reaons why tin plated steel is used for food cans (2)

Thanks!
(I am so bad at chemistry)

Ok here goes (I apologise in advance for any confusion or incorrect answers!)

The positive tin ions are attracted to the negative electrode (cathode) where they go and gain electrons to make them into neutral atoms...which leaves them as tin (the pure element) meaning they come out of solution and are deposited on the outside of the steel.

The tin at the positive electrode loses electrons to become a positively charged ion and goes into solution (in the tin sulfate).

The reason the concentration doesn't change is...as one tin gains electrons and goes out of solution, another loses electrons to become an atom and goes into the solution

tin on food cans - prevents rusting from liquids as steel contains iron which rusts and maybe is resistant to acids or is hard and strong (not sure on this one :s-smilie:

)

Hope that helps,

Cari

Reply 6

nathanlowe

Cari basically expanded my answer.

The first two are all about losing and gaining electrons at the anode and cathode. Its all to do with the for example : Ca + - which would lose electrons or K- which would gain them.

Reply 7

neomilan

OP

17

thanks for the help so far, i appreciate its a hard question, but i hope you triple science A* people come forword :P

Reply 8

Robbie10538

9

Ok let me at them!

neomilan

Here is the question:

3. Mild Steel can be electroplated with tin in the laboratory.

The posotive electrode is made of Tin and the Negative electrode is made of steel.

The solution is Tin sulphate solution

a) Explain what happens at the negative electrode to deposit tin on the steel (3)

The positive tin ions are attracted to the negative electrode. They are reducted and so stay on the steel. Tin atoms are formed
b) What happens to tin at the posotive electrode? (3)

Electrons are taken so it is oxidised. The new positive ion seperates and is attraxcted to the negative electrode.
C) Why does the concetration of the tin sulphate solution not change during the electrolysis (2)

As the tin ions are removed from the solution at the negative electrode, they are replaced by from the positive electrode by equal numbers of tin ions going into the solution
d)Suggest 2 reaons why tin plated steel is used for food cans (2)

To make it look attractive/shiny
To protect it against rust

Thanks!
(I am so bad at chemistry)

Reply 9

Malvalekker

You might want to add that reduction is the process where positive ions gain electrons (at the cathode or negative electrode) and oxidisation is the process where negaitve ions lose electrons (at the anode or positive electrode).

Reply 10

neomilan

OP

17

thanks so much Robbie10538, i am now a step closer to actually understanding electrolyisis!

Reply 11

N4R1K0

malsi101

im shocked noone hasnt helped you yet...the amount of A* students on here is shocking yet noones stepped forward...sorry I cant answer your Q as I dont know it but Im sure all those intelligent people on here do...lets hope someone steps forward for you :biggrin:

spread the love sis bwt muslims
xxxxxxxxxxx

Reply 12

Malsy

18

N4R1K0

spread the love sis bwt muslims
xxxxxxxxxxx

Thank yuuuuuuu brother, will do :smile:

Reply 13

JTDye

Tin Plating is used not only because is it strong and cheap but also because it is low on the reactivity series and takes a lot to react

Reply 14

Borek

4

And the necroposting record badge for November goes to JTDye!

Original post by Borek

And the necroposting record badge for November goes to JTDye!

yup, pretty impressive :congrats:

Reply 16

monisj1

1

the metal is formed at the negative electrode cos its a positive ion and the other thing is formed at the positive electrode due to having negative ions (opposites attract)

Reply 17

Borek

4

Original post by monisj1

the metal is formed at the negative electrode cos its a positive ion and the other thing is formed at the positive electrode due to having negative ions (opposites attract)

Actually metal cation (which is positive) is attracted to the negative electrode (opposites attract), and when it gets there it can get reduced (negative electrode is negative because it has excess electrons, eager to jump out of the electrode and attach to the cation). So there is apparently something wrong with your explanation.

Reply 18

monisj1

1

Original post by Borek

Actually metal cation (which is positive) is attracted to the negative electrode (opposites attract), and when it gets there it can get reduced (negative electrode is negative because it has excess electrons, eager to jump out of the electrode and attach to the cation). So there is apparently something wrong with your explanation.

thats what i meant read it properly please

Reply 19

Borek

4

OK, I see what you mean now. Still, I find what you wrote unclear and confusing - when you write "metal is formed (...) cos its a positive ion" it sounds like you are suggesting cations are produced, not reduced to produce a solid metal. But perhaps it is just my English failing me.

Chemistry HELP! - Electrolysis Question

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