Electrolysis science fair

Project: The effect of water salinity on electrolysis

Your abstract may be the hardest part of your project. It may ONLY be 250 words, but must summarize your entire work. The first paragraph should describe your purpose and give your hypothesis with any important background information. The second paragraph should be a very short version of your procedure. The third paragraph should summarize your results and conclusions.

I've attached the project we used for the science fair. The resources can be used. Information from the document used as long as its put into own words.

What it should look like:

HEADING:

Title (in all caps)

Your full name

Nam of your school

Category

BODY (250 words)

Purpose

Procedures

Data

Conclusions

BIBLIOGRAPHY

3 most important resources

The effect of water salinity on electrolysis Abstract This experiment was done to investigate how the salinity of water affects the electrolysis process. Comparison was made between ocean water and distilled water. Hypothesis Sea water with higher salinity will conduct more electricity. Scientific Terms Electrolysis, electrolyte, ions, electrodes, anode, cathode, sodium chloride Background Electrolysis process Electrolysis is the process where electric current passes through a solution. The process requires a voltage source, an anode (positive) electrode, a cathode (negative) electrode and an electrolyte solution. The electrolysis process will start when the positive terminal of a battery is connected to the anode and the negative terminal of the battery is connected to the cathode. When this connection is done, the positive ions in the electrolyte will move towards the cathode and the negative ions will move towards the anode resulting in current flow. Water by itself is a poor conductor. But if salt or sodium chloride is added to water, it can start to conduct electricity through the electrolysis process. Sodium chloride in solid form does not conduct electricity. The electrostatic attraction between the sodium ion and chloride ion is very strong when it is in solid form. However when sodium chloride is mixed in water, the sodium and chloride ions are separated and move freely in the solution making it a good electrolyte. Materials The materials required for this science fair project: - 2 beakers - 300ml distilled water - 300ml sea water - 2 copper electrodes (either a copper rod, copper bar or copper wire) - 4 1.5V batteries - Battery holder - 4 jumper wires with crocodile clips at both ends - A digital voltmeter - An ammeter - A small light bulb with socket Procedure 1. For this experiment, the independent variable is the use of seawater or distilled water. The dependent variable is the amount of current flowing in the circuit as indicated by the bulb lighting up, and the brightness of the bulb. This is measured by using the ammeter to measure the current and observing the light bulb. The constants (control variables) are the battery voltage, light bulb wattage and the amount of electrolyte solution used. 2. Label the beakers as A and B. Fill beaker A with 300ml of distilled water and beaker B with 300ml of salt water. 3. Place both copper electrodes in beaker A. The electrodes must not touch one another. Connect one jumper wire from the battery to one of the copper electrodes. The other wire from the battery is connected through the light bulb and ammeter to the second electrode in the beaker. Once the connection is done, the electrolysis process will begin. Please refer to figure 1 for the circuit connection. The voltage can be measured using the digital voltmeter between the electrodes.