Question

Define electuoslysis. Explain the process
of electrolysis in copper sulphate solution
with cathode and anode reaction
​

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Electrolysis always involves a flow of electrons in the external wires and electrodes and a flow of ions in the electrolyte and there is always a reduction at the negative cathode electrode (which attracts positive ions, cations) and an oxidation at the positive anode electrode (which attracts negative ions, anions) ...

Answer 2

Answer:

An electrolyte is such a chemical whose atoms are tightly bonded together, by ionic bonds but when we dissolve it in water, its molecules split up into positive, and negative ions. The positively charged ions are referred as cations whereas negatively charged ions are referred as anions. Both cations and anions move freely in the solution.

Electrolysis of Copper Sulphate

Whenever copper sulfate or CuSO4 is added to water, it gets dissolved in the water. As CuSO4 is an electrolyte, it splits into Cu+ + (cation) and SO4 − − (anion) ions and move freely in the solution.

electrolyte copper sulphate

Now we will immerse two copper electrodes in that solution.

The Cu+ + ions (cation) will be attracted towards cathode i.e. the electrode connected to the negative terminal of the battery. On reaching on the cathode, each Cu+ + ion will take electrons from it and becomes neutral copper atoms.

Similarly the SO4 − − (anion) ions will be attracted by anode i.e. the electrode connected to the positive terminal of the battery. So SO4 − − ions will move towards anode where they give up two electrons and become SO4 radical.

But since SO4 radical can not exist in the electrical neutral state, it will attack copper anode and will form copper sulfate.

In the above process, after taking electrons the neutral copper atoms get deposited on the cathode. At the same time, SO4 reacts with copper anode and becomes CuSO4 but in water it can not exist as single molecules instead of that CuSO4 will split into Cu+ +, SO4 − − and dissolve in water. So it can be concluded that, during electrolysis of copper sulfate with copper electrodes, copper is deposited on cathode and same amount of copper is removed from anode.If during electrolysis of copper sulfate, we use carbon electrode instead of copper or other metal electrodes, then electrolysis reactions will be little bit different. Actually SO4 can not react with carbon and in this case the SO4 will react with water of the solution and will form sulfuric acid and liberate oxygen.

The process described above is known as electrolysis.