Electrolysis of copper chloride

Electric power is used in everyday life not only to produce light, heat or cold and to run motors, computers and more.  It is also needed for chemical reactions (electrolysis) to produce metals (e.g. aluminum, pure copper) and non metals like chlorine.

In the following experiment you shall discover how electrolysis works. Direct current is supplied by a solar cell.    Experiment

1.     Add a spatula tip full of copper chloride to distilled water in a blister.

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2.     Dissolve the blue solid by alternately sucking up the mixture into the pipette and returning it to the blister.

3.     Create an open circuit between the solar module and its connections by attaching the pencil leads to the crocodile cables.

4.     Dip the pencil leads into the solution; they must not touch each other.

5.     How much time does it take until no more changes occur at the ends of the leads? 

6.     After the end of the experiment collect all of the residues for disposal.

First publication: 2010                                                                  Last modification:22.01.2016