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SUMMARY:Electrolysis: What Textbooks Don’t Tell Us - Dr Hasok Chang\, De
 partment of History and Philosophy of Science\, Cambridge
DTSTART:20181129T190000Z
DTEND:20181129T200000Z
UID:TALK115039@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Andrew Howe
DESCRIPTION:The electrolysis of water and aqueous salt solutions is a comm
 on and significant subject in chemistry instruction at various levels.  \n
 \nHowever\, textbook treatments of electrolysis are often inadequate and m
 isleading\, and also mutually contradictory.  In this paper we present an 
 analysis of a number of chemistry textbooks at GCSE\, A-level\, and introd
 uctory university levels\, supplemented by our own experimental work and s
 ome relevant historical perspective. \n\nIn the electrolysis of water ther
 e are open questions about whether the resultant hydrogen and oxygen gases
  originate from pre-dissociated ions\, or a direct reduction and oxidation
  of H2O molecules.  Hardly any textbooks give a convincing account of the 
 precise role played by the added electrolyte to facilitate the electrolysi
 s of water.  And generally there is an unnecessary downplaying of the vari
 ous interesting secondary reactions in electrolysis.  We argue that the te
 xtbook treatments would be improved by an admission of complexities that c
 an spur students on to further learning\, and a recognition that there are
  viable competing accounts. In fact\, we argue that the most insightful el
 ementary model of electrolysis was advanced in the mid-19th century by J F
  Daniell and W A Miller\, an account that is almost universally ignored in
  modern textbooks. \n\nWe conclude with a brief discussion of broader impl
 ications of this study for science education in general.
LOCATION:Pfizer Lecture Theatre\, Department of Chemistry\, Lensfield Road
 \, Cambridge
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