Electrolysis of aqueous CuSO4 with inert electrodes gives :
A
Cu at cathode, anode gets dissolved
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B
Cu at cathode, O2 at anode
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C
O2 at anode, H2 at cathode
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D
O2 at anode, cathode gets dissolved
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Solution
The correct option is BCu at cathode, O2 at anode Electrolyte CuSO4 dissociates as Cu2+ and SO2−4 along with H+ and OH− ions in the aqueous solution. At cathode (reduction):
As Cu2+ has higher reduction potential than H+, it gets preferentially reduced. 2Cu2++4e−→2Cu At anode (oxidation):
As OH− has higher oxidation potential than SO2−4, it gets preferentially oxidised. 4OH−→2H2O+O2+4e−
Hence, Cu at cathode and O2 at anode are produced by electrolysis of aqueous CuSO4 with inert electrodes.