Question

Observe the circuit given in Fig. Boojho set up this circuit for the purification of copper. What will be the nature of – (i) plate A (ii) plate B (iii) the solution? Explain the process of purification.

solution 

Answer 1

Copper plates:-

• We are taking a pure copper plate and connecting it to the negative terminal of the battery.
• Thus, plate A is the pure copper plate and can be used as the cathode.
• Now, we are taking another copper plate which is impure and needs to be made pure.
• We connect this impure plate to the positive terminal of the battery.
• Therefore, now plate B is an impure copper plate and will be used as the anode.
• The solution used here is Copper sulphate$\left({\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\right)$ solution

Purification process:-

• The purification process used here is electroplating.
• Electroplating is nothing but the process of plating a metal onto another by mostly hydrolysis in order to prevent corrosion of metal.
• A Copper sulphate solution is used in the electroplating process.
• The copper from the impure plate is being transferred to the pure plate.
• And as a result the impurities get settled below the anode.
• Thus in this way, the impure copper plate can be purified.