Electrolysis
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Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Using Earth's resources, where they explored how natural resources are extracted and processed. It deepens their understanding by focusing on Electrolysis, a key method for extracting and purifying substances, such as metals, through electrical currents. As the final unit in the big question, How can substances be made and changed?, it reinforces pupils’ understanding of how chemical processes transform raw materials into useful products, highlighting the importance of these changes in industry and everyday life.
Prior knowledge requirements
- A chemical that is oxidised either gains oxygen or loses electrons.
- A chemical that is reduced either loses oxygen or gains electrons.
- A redox reaction is one in which both oxidation and reduction take place.
- Redox reactions may be viewed in terms of gain or loss of oxygen or hydrogen, but also gain and loss of electrons.
- Carbon can be used to extract some metals (e.g. iron and copper) from their ores, e.g. copper oxide plus carbon makes copper and carbon dioxide.
- Hydrogen used in fuel cells can be extracted from fossil fuels or produced by electrolysis powered by the national grid.
- During chemical reactions atomic nuclei and electrons are rearranged and new substances are formed.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Using Earth's resources, where they explored how natural resources are extracted and processed. It deepens their understanding by focusing on Electrolysis, a key method for extracting and purifying substances, such as metals, through electrical currents. As the final unit in the big question, How can substances be made and changed?, it reinforces pupils’ understanding of how chemical processes transform raw materials into useful products, highlighting the importance of these changes in industry and everyday life.
Prior knowledge requirements
- A chemical that is oxidised either gains oxygen or loses electrons.
- A chemical that is reduced either loses oxygen or gains electrons.
- A redox reaction is one in which both oxidation and reduction take place.
- Redox reactions may be viewed in terms of gain or loss of oxygen or hydrogen, but also gain and loss of electrons.
- Carbon can be used to extract some metals (e.g. iron and copper) from their ores, e.g. copper oxide plus carbon makes copper and carbon dioxide.
- Hydrogen used in fuel cells can be extracted from fossil fuels or produced by electrolysis powered by the national grid.
- During chemical reactions atomic nuclei and electrons are rearranged and new substances are formed.
Chemistry
Electrolysis
This unit focuses on electrolysis, electrode reactions, and predicting products, including competing reactions in solutions. It explains metal extraction through electrolysis and writing ionic equations. It also covers tests for gases like oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and chlorine.
10 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Electrolysis unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our AQA secondary chemistry curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for AQA secondary chemistry programmes.