Question

An electrolytic cell is set up using two platinum electrodes and an aqueous solution of copper (II) sulphate given below:

Name the ion discharged at the cathode.

• A. Cu²⁺
• B. H⁺
• C. SO₄^2-
• D. OH^-

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Cu²⁺

The ions present in the aqueous copper sulphate are $C{u}^{2+},H^{+},S{O}_4{}^{2-}$ and $O{H}^{-}$. The copper ions are below hydrogen ions in the activity series, thus, copper ions discharge in preference to \(H^+\) ions to form neutral copper atoms.

$C{u}^{2+}+2e^{-}\to Cu$

The copper atoms deposit on the cathode.