Electrolysis Practice Exam

How much lye will be produced by one tenth of a milliampere of galvanic current flowing for one second?

1. One unit of lye

2. Two units of lye

3. No lye

4. Five units of lye

The correct answer is: One unit of lye

To determine how much lye will be produced by a galvanic current, you can refer to Faraday's laws of electrolysis, which state that the amount of a substance altered at an electrode during electrolysis is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity that passes through the electrolyte. In this scenario, with a current of one-tenth milliampere flowing for one second, the production of lye will be determined by the relationship between current, time, and the electrochemical equivalent of the alkali produced. Given the low current flowing for a short period, it’s clear that any amount of lye produced will likely be minimal. However, small quantities of current in electrolysis can still lead to the formation of small quantities of products such as lye (sodium hydroxide) if the right conditions exist, including adequate electrolyte concentration and suitable electrode materials. The option indicating "one unit of lye" aligns with the expected output for such a low current, suggesting that even a small current can produce a measurable amount of lye, albeit minimal. In contrast, the other options imply larger quantities or none at all, which would not correlate well with the principles outlined by Faraday. Given the electrolysis is underway, it is reasonable to conclude