ChemEd DL Resource Group

Electrolysis of several aqueous solutions is carried out using a 9-V battery and pencil leads as electrodes. Because only the electrodes are shown in the videos, it is important to show these still images

or describe how the reactions were performed if students are to make sense of the videos. In each case the anode is on the left and a 9-V battery has been connected to the lead of each of the pencils near the eraser end with an alligator clip.

A newer version of most of these reactions using platinum electrodes is available as Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions -- New.