solve electrolysis of cuso^4 (using cu electrode)
Answers
Answer:
The electrolyte copper(II) sulfate, provides a high concentration of copper(II) ions Cu2+ and sulfate ions SO42– to carry the current during the electrolysis process. There are tiny concentrations of hydrogen ions H+ and hydroxide ions (OH–) from the self-ionisation of water itself, but these can be ignored in this experiment.
H2O(l) H+(aq) + OH–(aq)
The electrolysis will only take place when electricity is passed through the copper solution.
The technical details of the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution with two different electrodes (a) graphite (carbon) electrodes and (b) copper electrodes are all explained below.
Explanation:
The products of electrolysing copper sulfate solution with inert electrodes (carbon/graphite or platinum) are copper metal and oxygen gas.
Using the simple apparatus (above left diagram) and inert carbon (graphite) electrodes, you can observe the products of the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution are (i) a copper deposit on the negative cathode electrode and (ii) oxygen gas at the positive anode electrode. This anode reaction differs from when you use copper electrodes (see section (b) below). You have to fill the little test tubes with the electrolyte (dil. copper sulfate solution), hold the liquid in with your finger and carefully invert them over the nearly full electrolysis cell. The very simple apparatus (above right) can be used with two inert wire electrodes.