Background

Electrolysis is a chemical process that uses electricity to drive reactions that would not occur spontaneously. By applying a direct electric current to a system, it is possible to decompose a substance into its components. This is how, for example, metals are extracted from their ores or water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen gas.

Electrolysis is a very important phenomenon in chemistry. It is used in both reduction and oxidation reactions. Such reactions involve the transfer of electrons, which is fundamental to many industrially important processes, such as the production of aluminum and chlorine, and it is the basis for the functioning of batteries and fuel cells.

Electrolysis is so broad that it is divided into two categories: igneous electrolysis, which occurs in the molten state of matter, and aqueous electrolysis, which occurs when the substance is dissolved in water. The latter can also occur in two ways: with inert electrodes, in which no reaction occurs at the electrode, and with active electrodes, which also participate in the electrolysis reaction.

This technology has a significant impact on today's world, as it is used in many industrial processes, such as the production of aluminum, the production of chlorine for water treatment, the recycling of metals, and even the production of hydrogen fuel. In addition, it is the basis for the operation of batteries and fuel cells that power our electronic devices.

To better understand the subject, you can consult the following sources:

1. Book "Chemistry - The Central Science" by Theodore L. Brown, H. Eugene LeMay Jr., Bruce E. Bursten and Catherine Murphy.
2. YouTube Channel “Chemistry with Prof. Borges” - Contains explanatory videos on electrolysis and various other chemistry topics.
3. Education Portal - Website with a detailed explanation of electrolysis and its applications.

Hands-on Activity

Activity Title: Conducting Electrolysis at Home

Project Objective

The project aims to solidify knowledge about the electrolysis process through a hands-on experiment done at home. The activity will require research, planning, execution, interpretation, and presentation of results, promoting important skills in areas such as Chemistry, Physics, and interpersonal skills.

Detailed Project Description

The groups (of 3-5 students) will recreate the electrolysis process using common household items and then observe and analyze the results. In addition to performing the experiment, students will research electrolysis, related concepts, and its applications.

Required Materials

• A 9-volt battery
• Two paper clips
• A plastic cup
• Water
• Table salt
• Pencil and paper (for taking notes)

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Research: Students should research electrolysis, including its concepts, applications, and related physical principles.

2. Preparation: Put some water in the plastic cup. Dissolve a few spoonfuls of salt in the water.

3. Setup: Attach a paper clip to each terminal of the battery. These will be the electrodes.

4. Execution: Insert the paper clips into the salt solution without touching each other and observe what happens.

5. Documentation: Take detailed notes of your observations.

6. Interpretation: Discuss as a group what you observed and why these results occurred.

7. Report: Each group will prepare a detailed project report.

Project Deliverables

The project results should be documented in a written report that includes the following topics:

• Introduction: Contextualize the topic of electrolysis, its relevance, and real-world applications. Present the objective of the project.

• Development: Explain the theory behind electrolysis, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used, and present and discuss the results obtained. Describe the steps of the experiment, explaining what happened in each one and how it relates to the theory of electrolysis. Explain any challenges encountered and how your team overcame them.

• Conclusion: Review the main points, explaining the lessons learned and the conclusions drawn about the project. Relate the hands-on experiment to the theory researched and discuss the importance of what was learned.

• Bibliography: List the sources you relied on to work on the project.

The project will last two weeks, with at least 12 hours per student dedicated to studying the theory, conducting the experiment, and writing the report.