Question

Name the common elements presents in the anode mud in electrolytic refining of copper. Why are they so present?

Answer 1

Metals which are less reactive and valueable as silver, gold and platinum, etc, are found in anode mud. The reason is that being less reactive, they do not lose electrons at anode and collect under the anode as anode mud. Copper metal at anode loses electrons in a usual manner to form $C{u}^{2+}$ ions.

At anode $Cu\left(s\right)\to C{u}^{2+}+\left(aq\right)+2e^{-}Noblemetals⟶Noreaction$