Question

When the sample of copper with zinc impurity is to be purified by electrolysis, the appropriate electrodes of cathode and anode are:

• A. Pure zinc, Pure copper
• B. Impure sample, Pure copper
• C. Impure zinc, Impure sample
• D. Pure copper, Impure sample

Answer 1

The correct option is

C

Pure copper, Impure sample

Impure metal is made the anode while pure metal is made the cathode.

Here the impure sample is considered as anode as the zinc impurity is deposited into the solution and pure copper is considered as cathode because the pure metal from the sample is deposited on the cathode.