This is the other experiment from the MEL chemistry Tin set. In this experiment we explore the concept of electrolysis and redox reactions. Like always no I am not sponsored by Mel chemistry, I am just doing this for fun. What is electrolysis?Electrolysis is when you use a DC electrical current to drive a chemical reaction forward. They can be used to separate and break down electrolytes. Electrolytes are ionic compounds which are either molten or in an aqueous solution. Aqueous solutions are solutions in which the solvent is water. Electro=Electricity Lysis= To break down The cathode is negative aka give away electrons to the positively charged ions whereas the anode is positive aka capture and take away electrons from the negatively charged ions . The cations are drawn to the cathode and the anions are drawn to the anode. Cations are the positive ions and the anions are the negative ions. So positive is attracted to negative and the negative is attracted to the positive. To predict the product of the reaction you would need a periodic table and know what the electrolyte in the reaction is. If it is a molten ionic compound: The cation/ positive ion of the ionic compound will go to the cathode thus producing a metal and the anion/ negative ion of the ionic compound will go to the anode thus producing a non-metal. There may also be cases of oxides being formed on the electrodes due to the instability of the reaction thus causing the ions to oxidize. If it is an aqueous solution: If the cation/positive ion of the ionic compound has a lower reactivity than hydrogen then the metal will be produced if it is more reactive than hydrogen the hydrogen will be produced. As of the anions, if the anions are not a halide (Group 7/17 on the periodic table) ion oxygen is produced. If they are a halide ion then the halogen gas is produced. What do you need for the experiment?2 wires with alligator clips attached on each ends 1 powerpack 1 petri dish or beaker Tin chloride solution How do you do the experiment?
How does the experiment work?As mentioned before this is something called electrolysis. In our case the electrolyte is an aqueous solution of tin (II) chloride. Now seeing that tin is more reactive than hydrogen you would think that hydrogen would be produced. But not in this case as like all areas of chemistry there is usually an exception and this is an exception. Due to the tin ion being a cation tin forms on the cathode side.The formula is as follows:
2Sn2+ ⇋ 2Sn+e- As for the anode oxygen gas and a hydrogen cation is produced as again, this experiment is an exception. The formula is as follows: 2H2O ⇋ O2+4H++e- Now because tin reduces and turns into Sn4+ and the oxygen oxidizes with the tin being produced at the cathode and the hydrogen reacts with the chlorine. This is called a secondary reaction.So the full formula is: 2SnCl2 + O2 + 2H2O ⇋ 2SnO2 + 4HCl
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Sooo the rock candy experiment. Probably the most done experiment during science fairs (something I wish my school had). It might not be a good idea to eat it though because ants, bugs and other stuff could've gotten in and it didn't taste that good when I tried it! (It was too sweet)
This experiment is the tin hedgehog experiment from the Mel chemistry Tin set. Before I start ranting about the experiment I would like to put on a disclaimer saying that no I am not being sponsored or paid to do this website. I just thought it would be cool to do it. But check out Mel chemistry if you are interested. It's pretty cool and I had a lot of fun playing around with it. That being said let's get on with the actual experimenting part. |
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