The following questions refer to the electrolysis of CuSO4 solution with copper electrodes.
(i) What is the change in the mass of cathode and anode?
(ii) What will happen to the colour of the electrolyte if platinum electrodes are used? Explain.
(iii) Briefly, describe one practical application of electrolysis of CuSO4 solution.
The following questions refer to the electrolysis of CuSO4 solution with copper electrodes.
(i) What is the change in the mass of cathode and anode?
(ii) What will happen to the colour of the electrolyte if platinum electrodes are used? Explain.
(iii) Briefly, describe one practical application of electrolysis of CuSO4 solution.
(i) The mass of anode will decrease due to the loss of copper atoms, while the mass of cathode will increase due to deposition of copper atoms.
(ii) The colour of the electrolyte will fade because the copper ions will get discharged at the cathode from the electrolyte. No new copper ions will be added to the electrolyte from the anode.
(iii) A practical application of electrolysis of CuSO4 solution is electro-refining of impure copper and other metals like zinc, nickel, silver and lead. Pure copper metals will dissolve from the copper anode (impure block of copper is the anode), and the copper ions in the solution will get deposited at the cathode (pure strip of copper is the cathode).
(i) The mass of anode will decrease due to the loss of copper atoms, while the mass of cathode will increase due to deposition of copper atoms.
(ii) The colour of the electrolyte will fade because the copper ions will get discharged at the cathode from the electrolyte. No new copper ions will be added to the electrolyte from the anode.
(iii) A practical application of electrolysis of CuSO4 solution is electro-refining of impure copper and other metals like zinc, nickel, silver and lead. Pure copper metals will dissolve from the copper anode (impure block of copper is the anode), and the copper ions in the solution will get deposited at the cathode (pure strip of copper is the cathode).
