Question

The ions which are discharged during electrolysis of aqueous ${\mathrm{CuSO}}_4$, using copper electrodes are _?

Answer 1

Electrolysis:

• It is a process that leads to chemical change when an electric current is passed through an electrolyte.
• During the electrolysis process, the negatively charged electrode loses the electrons and undergoes oxidation while the positively charged electrode gains the electrons and undergoes the reduction process.

Electrolysis of aqueous ${\mathrm{CuSO}}_4$

• During electrolysis of an aqueous solution of ${\mathrm{CuSO}}_4$ using copper electrodes, the following reactions take place at the cathode and anode.

${\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Cu}}^{2+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$

Reduction at the cathode: ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{2+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to \mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$

Oxidation at the anode: $2{\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+\frac{1}{2}{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}$

Only copper ion is discharged and reduced to the copper metal as shown in the reaction.