Dear GCE ‘O’ Level (as well as IP) students using Marshall Cavendish Chemistry Textbook as reference text,
Please note that there is a printing error in the chemistry textbook (third impression 2008) that many of you did not realised (just like many of my students, until recently).
The error in print is on Page 271 under the Chapter of “Electrolysis” in Chemistry Matters for Pure Chemistry syllabus.
In the Key Ideas which acts like sub-section summary, it states that “OH- ions will be discharged as oxygen gas. However, if a solution is concentrated in halide ions, the halogen gas will be produced.” – At The Cathode! This is certainly not true as we know that The Cathode in an electrolytic cell is always negative charged and Cations (+ve ions) are attracted towards it and will be selectively discharged.
At the anode which is positively charged, Anions (-ve ions) will be attracted to it and be selectively discharged. As such, the information that “H+ ions will be discharged…..” is also incorrect in the Key Ideas.
(Click on image to have a clearer view)
In view that many of you rely alot on the Key Ideas for summarising the chapter, please take note of this glitch when you are revising for your GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry Examinations.
Hope this information helps.
PS: If you know of anymore errors in print in this textbook (or other chemistry textbook), feel free to share your information here. Readers (mostly students and educators) will be grateful to you.
PPS: We would certainly love to here from you on this!
Updates on 17th Oct: There is another error in the book on Organic Chemistry. Click here to find out!
Related Articles:
- O Level Chemistry – Products of Electrolysis of Molten Compound
- O Level Chemistry – Definitions of Electrolysis
- More Error in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 2
- O Level Chemistry: Challenging Mole Calculation / Electrolysis Questions
- O Level Chemistry – Strategies to Predict Products of Electrolysis for Aqueuous Solutions
page 277. mistake?
Last piece of text:
The elctrode from which electrons flow out of is the negative electrode.
Loss of electrons -> Oxidation – Anode -> POSITIVE electrode?
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JM Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
i dont have this textbook, but your concept is correct..
so it should be wrong..
actually i realised quite a number of mistakes from this textbook also
hope new editions will be better ^^
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KR Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
omg.. so all the diagrams in the ‘Simple Cells’ section are wrong? All the mor reactive metals sld b postive electrodes?
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sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:04 am
Hi KR,
In Simple Cells, we do not really assign Positive and Negative signs to the electrodes.
The strategy we use is different from those in Electrolytic Cells.
Hope this helps.
sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:22 am
The assistant editor of publisher Marshall Cavendish are taking down all our information to him.
They will make the necessary corrections in their next edition of Chemistry Matters.
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sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:37 am
Hi Mash,
There is nothing wrong with this one.
Students are confused with this as they thought the assignment of negative/positive electrodes is the same as electrolytic cells.
In fact, the assignment is different between Simple Cells VS Electrolytic Cells.
In simple cell, you do not see words like “ANODE” and “CATHODE” in the textbook if you realised.
Hope this helps. Let me know your thoughts on it.
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Oh…yeah…never realised it
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sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:22 am
=)
All the best!
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Rakshana Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Thx!
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[...] the error on Electrolysis Topic that we have posted earlier, there is another error spotted in Organic Chemistry. It is shown on page 393 under “Test [...]
but i think this textbook is better last year one,as the last year textbook did not really give an clear explaination of the topics
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sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:06 am
I can’t agree more with you. It is quite a good textbook, although information is pretty overwhelming for some students.
Generally, it is a good textbook!
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At page 393, Fig. 22.3, theres a typo.
The bottommost carbon atom of the main chain sld b a hydrogen atom.
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sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:05 am
Hi KR,
Thanks for the information. We have blog about it and has also informed the Assistant Editor of Marshall Cavendish of this error.
Cheers,
Sean =)
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Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
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thanks for the info!(:
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sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:03 am
Most welcome! All the best to your chemistry exams!
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[...] Error on Page 271 – under Electrolysis [...]
is this book even credible? how are students going to study properly if there are errors in the textbook? we would end up studying the wrong things!
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Hi wod like 2 ask a ques
wat is negative and positive electrodes?
i always confuse them with cathode and anode
can u give a clear definition?
thank you
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