Multicolored Electrolysis

Acid and Base Indicators Electrolysis 

Materials:

• Petri dish 
• Universal indicator solution 
• Sodium chloride (NaCl) 
• Battery 
• Electrode wires with alligator clips (red and black) 

Procedure:

  

1. Set up two beakers and add 50 mL of water into each beaker
2. Weigh 58.5 g of NaCl twice and add each mol of NaCl into each beaker
3. Add a few drops of universal indicator solution into each beaker
4. Use a filter paper soaked with NaCl solution as a bridge connecting the two beakers 
5. Set up wires with the battery 
6. Dip the two different ends into different beaker 
7. Observe the reaction  

Discussion: 

1. Why is the universal indicator green when you first did it? The indicator turned green because the solution was first neutral 
2. Why can we use the pencils to run a charge? Pencil can act as electrode that carries electrons 
3. What is the color at the cathode? Purple 
4. What is the color at the anode? Yellow 
5. What happens when you place the niobium magnet? Why? The magnet creates magnetic field as the observed electrons moved in a circular motion 
6. What is the equation for the electrolysis of water? Without electron and volts H+ + OH- --> H2O
7. Why can we dump the solution down the drain? The products are gas