NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 14 – Chemical Effects of Electric Current

a) Most liquids that conduct electricity are solutions of acids, bases and salts. 

(The solutions of acids, bases, and salts can conduct electricity because they produce ions when dissolved in water and allow an electric current to pass through them.) 

b) The passage of an electric current through a solution causes chemical effects. 

(A chemical reaction occurs when an electric current passes through a conducting solution. As a result, the solution decomposes into positive and negative ions. This process of decomposition of the solution is known as the chemical effect of electric current.) 

c) If you pass current through copper sulphate solution, copper gets deposited on the plate connected to the negative terminal of the battery. 

(Copper sulphate decomposes into positively charged copper ions and negatively charged sulphate ions when an electric current is passed through it. These positively charged copper ions get drawn towards the plate (cathode) connected to the negative terminal of a battery and get deposited on it.) 

d) The process of depositing a layer of any desired metal on another material by means of electricity is called electroplating.

One of the most significant uses of the chemical effects of electric current is electroplating.

The deflection in the magnetic needle of a compass shows that current is flowing through the wire, i.e., through the circuit. This shows that the circuit is complete since the free ends of the tester are dipped in a conducting solution. A conducting solution allows electric current to pass through it and, as a result, the magnetic needle shows a deflection.

 Liquids such as lemon juice, saltwater, and vinegar are conducting liquids that allow electricity to pass through them. Hence, these liquids can be used in the beaker to show the deflection of the magnetic needle.

The bulb may not glow for one or more of the reasons listed below:

1. The liquid in the beaker is maybe poor conducting. As a result, the electric current would not be able to flow through the liquid. Hence, the circuit is incomplete.

2. The electric current in the circuit is too weak to light the bulb. This can happen if the material used to make the circuit is not a good conductor of electricity or if the battery does not have enough energy to generate electricity.

3. The liquid may have a very low conductivity. So, the current flowing through the circuit may be insufficient to produce enough heat in the filament of the bulb to make it glow.

4. The battery may be used up and no longer be capable of generating electricity.

5. The bulb may be fused.

6. Connections are loose.
   
   

1. Liquid A is a better conductor than liquid B. 

The amount of current flowing through a conducting solution is determined by its conductivity. The greater the conductivity, the greater the amount of current passing through the solution, and vice versa. The conductivity of liquid A is greater than the conductivity of liquid B. Hence, liquid A is a better conductor than liquid B.

No, pure water does not conduct electricity as it is a poor conductor of electricity. Pure water (distilled water) is devoid of any salts. They can conduct electricity when a small amount of common salt is added to them, as the salt solution allows electricity to pass through.

Water usually contains salts and has the ability to conduct electricity. If the area's electrical supply is not turned off and water is poured on electrical appliances, electricity may pass through the water. Electricity may harm firemen if they come in contact with wet electrical switches, electric wires, and other electrical appliances. They may get electrocuted. That is why, in the case of a fire, the main electrical supply for the area is shut off before they use the water hoses, to prevent the firemen from electrocution.

 The amount of dissolved salts present in the seawater is more than the water we use for drinking purposes. As a result, seawater will conduct electricity better than drinking water. So, the compass needle shows more deflection in seawater than in drinking water.

No, it is not safe for an electrician to work on electrical appliances outdoors during a heavy downpour. This is because rainwater contains a small number of dissolved salts and acids, making it a good conductor of electricity. So, the electrician may get electrical shocks while working outdoors during heavy rains or downpours.

Rainwater contains a small number of dissolved salts and impurities, making it a good conductor of electricity. Distilled water does not contain any dissolved salts or impurities; thus, it is a poor conductor of electricity. Hence, due to the presence of these salts and impurities, rainwater can allow electricity to pass through it and cause a deflection in the compass needle, while distilled water cannot.

The list of electroplated objects around us is as follows: 

1. Chromium plating: This is done on different parts of cars, motorcycles, and buses, to give them a shiny appearance. 

2. Gold Plating: A thin layer of gold is deposited by electroplating on the silver ornaments and they are called gold-plated ornaments. 

     3 .Zinc plating: Iron used in constructing buildings, bridges, and                                     automobiles is coated with a layer of zinc (galvanization). This provides                   strength and protects the iron from corrosion and rusting.

The thick rod of the impure copper plate is to be attached to the positive terminal of the battery. This is because when the electric current is passed through the copper sulphate solution, it gets dissociated into positively charged copper ions and negatively charged sulphate ions. The free copper, being positively charged, gets attracted to the negative terminal of the battery and gets deposited on the electrode (cathode) attached to it. The loss of copper from the copper sulphate solution is regained from the impure copper rod (anode) connected to the positive terminal of the battery.