Question

During electrolytic refining of zinc, it gets

• A. deposited on cathode
• B. deposited on anode
• C. deposited on cathode as well as anode
• D. remains in the solution

Answer 1

The correct option is A deposited on cathode

Hint: Electrolytic refining is one method of refining impure metals like Cu, Zn, Ag, etc.
Step 1: There are different methods available for refining metals. Some methods are - vapor phase refining, zone refining, distillation, electrolysis, etc. Electrolytic refining is one such method mainly used for metals like Cu, Zn, Ag, etc. In electrolytic refining, electrical energy is used to convert non-spontaneous reactions to spontaneous reactions.
Step 2: In the electrolytic refining of zinc, impure zinc is made as an anode, and a thin sheet of pure zinc is made as the cathode. A metal salt solution is taken as an electrolyte. At anode oxidation of zinc occurs and at the cathode reduction of zinc occurs.
Step 3: During the course of refining, the size of the anode decreases and impurities settle down at the bottom of the anode as anodic mud. The size of the cathode increases due to the deposition of zinc on the surface thereby obtaining the pure metals of zinc at the cathode.
Cell reaction is as follows:
At anode: $Zn\left(s\right)\to Z{n}^{2+}\left(aq\right)+2e^{-}$
At cathode: $Z{n}^{2+}\left(aq\right)+2e^{-}\to Zn\left(s\right)$
Final step: So, the correct option is (A) deposited on cathode.