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Table 1: World production of some chemicals produced by electrolysis
ChemicalAnnual world production/tonnes

Aluminium1

49.3 x 106

Chlorine2

56 x 106

Sodium hydroxide3

66 x 106
Table 2: Practical work required by GCSE specifications
SpecificationPractical

AQA GCSE chemistry (8462)

Required practical activity 3

Investigate what happens when aqueous solutions are electrolysed using inert electrodes. This should be an investigation involving developing a hypothesis.

Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Chemistry

Core practical 3.31

Investigate the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution with inert electrodes and copper electrodes

OCR GCSE (9–1) Gateway Chemistry A and Twenty First Century Science Chemistry B

PAG 2 – Electrolysis

Example: Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride or aqueous copper sulfate solution testing for the gases produced.

(A range of practicals are included in the specification and centres can devise their own activity)

WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9–1) Chemistry

Specified practical work SP6B

Investigation into electrolysis of aqueous solutions and electroplating