Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the Concept of Electrolysis: The students will be introduced to the concept of electrolysis. They will learn that it is a process that uses an electric current to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. The objective is for the students to understand the basic principles of electrolysis and its importance in various applications.

2. Identify the Components of an Electrolytic Cell: The students will be able to identify and describe the components of an electrolytic cell, including the anode, cathode, and electrolyte. They will understand the roles of each component in the process of electrolysis.

3. Demonstrate the Process of Electrolysis: By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to demonstrate the process of electrolysis using a simple experiment. They should understand how the flow of electric current can cause a chemical reaction to occur.

Secondary Objectives:

1. Promote Group Collaboration: The students will be encouraged to work in groups during the hands-on activity, promoting collaboration and teamwork.

2. Enhance Critical Thinking: Through the hands-on activity, the students will be challenged to apply their knowledge of electrolysis and think critically to solve problems and understand the outcomes of their experiment.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Recap of Previous Knowledge: The teacher will start the lesson by reminding students of the basic concepts of chemistry, especially those related to chemical reactions, electric current, and ions. The teacher may use a quick quiz or a short discussion to engage students and refresh their memory. (3-5 minutes)

2. Problem Situations: The teacher will then present two problem situations to the class to spark their interest and set the stage for the lesson. a. "Imagine you have a rusty bicycle chain. How would you go about removing the rust and restoring the chain to its original state?" (2-3 minutes) b. "If you were a scientist trying to extract pure copper from a copper ore, what method would you use?" (2-3 minutes)

3. Real-World Contexts: The teacher will explain the importance of electrolysis in real-world applications. They will discuss its use in industries such as electroplating, metal extraction, and water splitting for hydrogen production. The teacher can also mention how electrolysis is used in everyday life, such as in the production of chlorine for water treatment and in the process of electrolyte replacement in sports drinks. (2-3 minutes)

4. Topic Introduction: To introduce the topic of the day, the teacher will grab the attention of the students by sharing a couple of interesting facts or stories related to electrolysis. a. The teacher might share the story of Sir Humphry Davy, who in 1807 used electrolysis to isolate several elements for the first time, including potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. b. The teacher could also share the fact that electrolysis is the process used to make aluminum, a metal that is found in over 270 minerals but is never found naturally in its pure form due to its high reactivity. (2-3 minutes)

5. Lesson Objectives: The teacher will then outline the objectives of the lesson and explain what the students will be doing to learn about electrolysis. The teacher will also give a brief overview of the hands-on activity, generating curiosity among the students. (1-2 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

Activity 1: Electrolysis of Water (10 - 12 minutes)

This experiment will demonstrate the ability of electrolysis to separate water into its component elements, hydrogen and oxygen. It will allow students to observe the process of electrolysis in a tangible and engaging way.

1. Materials Preparation: The teacher will divide the class into groups of four and provide each group with the following materials:

   • A 9-volt battery or a low-voltage DC power supply
   • Two pencils (preferably ones without erasers)
   • Two small cups
   • Water
   • Salt (optional, for conductivity enhancement)

2. Procedure Explanation: The teacher will then explain the process to the students. They will be asked to:

   • Fill each cup about halfway with water.
   • Add a pinch of salt to each cup (if provided) to enhance the water's conductivity.
   • Attach the pencils to the sides of the cups, ensuring the lead tips touch the water but are not submerged too deeply or touching the cups' bottoms.
   • Connect the positive (red) terminal of the battery to one pencil and the negative (black) terminal to the other using wires or alligator clips.
   • Observe what happens over time.

3. Hands-On Activity: The groups will then perform the experiment, following the explained procedure. This activity will be supervised by the teacher to ensure safety and proper conduct.

4. Observation and Discussion: As the experiment progresses, the teacher will guide the students to observe and discuss the changes that are occurring. They should notice bubbles forming at the pencil tips and rising to the top of the water. This is an indication that the water is being split into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The teacher should facilitate a discussion on why this might be happening, connecting the observations to the principles of electrolysis.

Activity 2: Electroplating a Metal Object (10 - 12 minutes)

This experiment will involve electroplating a copper penny with zinc to demonstrate the principle of electrolysis in a different context.

1. Materials Preparation: The teacher will distribute the following materials to each group:

   • A copper penny
   • A small piece of zinc
   • A 9-volt battery or a low-voltage DC power supply
   • Alligator clips
   • A container with a saltwater solution
   • Paper towels
   • A timer

2. Procedure Explanation: The teacher will then explain the process to the students. They will be asked to:

   • Dip a paper towel in the saltwater solution and place it on a flat surface.
   • Lay the copper penny on the wet paper towel.
   • Place the piece of zinc on top of the penny, making sure they don't touch each other.
   • Attach the positive (red) terminal of the battery to the zinc and the negative (black) terminal to the penny using alligator clips.
   • Turn on the power for a set amount of time (around 10 minutes).
   • Observe what happens.

3. Hands-On Activity: The groups will then follow the procedure, carrying out the electroplating of the copper penny with zinc. Again, the activity will be supervised by the teacher to ensure proper conduct and safety.

4. Observation and Discussion: The teacher will guide the students to observe and discuss the changes that occur during the experiment. They should notice a thin layer of zinc forming on the penny. The teacher will facilitate a discussion on why this is happening, relating the observations back to the principles of electrolysis.

During both activities, the teacher should circulate among the groups, facilitating discussions and answering any questions that arise. At the end of the hands-on activities, the teacher will encourage the students to clean up their materials and prepare for the conclusion of the lesson.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion: The teacher will bring the class back together for a group discussion. Each group will be given up to 2 minutes to share their observations and conclusions from the hands-on activities. This will allow for peer learning and a wider understanding of the experiments. The teacher will facilitate this discussion, asking guiding questions and summarizing the key points. (4-5 minutes)

2. Connecting Theory and Practice: The teacher will then lead a discussion on how the hands-on activities connect with the theory of electrolysis. The teacher will ask the students to explain how the experiments demonstrated the process of electrolysis and the role of the different components of the electrolytic cell. The teacher will also highlight any key connections between the experiments and the real-world applications of electrolysis discussed at the beginning of the lesson. (2-3 minutes)

3. Reflection: After the group discussion, the teacher will ask the students to take a moment to reflect on the lesson. The teacher will pose the following questions for the students to consider:

   • "What was the most important concept you learned today?" This question will help the students identify the key learning points of the lesson.
   • "What questions do you still have about electrolysis?" This question will encourage the students to think about any areas of the topic that they still find confusing or would like to explore further. (1-2 minutes)

4. Summarizing the Lesson: To conclude the lesson, the teacher will provide a brief summary of the main points covered. This will help to reinforce the learning and provide closure to the lesson. The teacher will also remind the students that they can always ask questions or seek clarification in the next class or during office hours. (1 minute)

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summarizing the Lesson: The teacher will start the conclusion by summarizing the main contents of the lesson. They will reiterate that electrolysis is a process that uses an electric current to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. The teacher will also remind the students of the components of an electrolytic cell - the anode, cathode, and electrolyte - and their roles in the process. Lastly, the teacher will recap the hands-on activities, the electrolysis of water and the electroplating of a copper penny with zinc, and how they demonstrated the principles of electrolysis. (2-3 minutes)

2. Connecting Theory, Practice, and Applications: The teacher will then explain how the lesson connected theory, practice, and applications. They will highlight how the hands-on activities allowed the students to see the theory of electrolysis in action. The teacher will also remind the students of the real-world applications of electrolysis that were discussed at the beginning of the lesson, emphasizing how the principles they learned are used in various industries and in everyday life. (1-2 minutes)

3. Additional Materials: To further enhance the students' understanding of electrolysis, the teacher will suggest some additional materials for them to explore. These may include:

   • Videos or animations that demonstrate the process of electrolysis in a visually engaging way.
   • Online simulations or virtual labs where students can perform electrolysis experiments in a virtual environment.
   • Articles or textbooks that provide more in-depth information about electrolysis and its applications. The teacher will remind the students that these resources are optional but can be helpful for reviewing and reinforcing the concepts learned in class. (1 minute)

4. Relevance to Everyday Life: Lastly, the teacher will explain the importance of electrolysis in everyday life. They will remind the students of the real-world applications discussed throughout the lesson, such as the production of metals, water treatment, and electrolyte replacement in sports drinks. The teacher will also point out that electrolysis is a key part of many sustainable technologies, including the production of hydrogen for fuel cells and the conversion of carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. The teacher will emphasize that understanding electrolysis is not just about learning a concept in chemistry, but also about understanding a process that has significant impacts on our world. (1 minute)