The electrolysis of copper sulphate solution - SC10

Question 1

how can copper be purified?

Answer 1

through the electrolysis of copper sulphate solution

Question 2

what sort of electrodes have to be used?

Answer 2

copper electrodes

Question 3

what happens to copper atoms at the anode?

Answer 3

they lose electrons to become copper ions

Question 4

what happens after the copper atoms have been turned into ions?

Answer 4

they dissolve in the solution and migrate to the cathode

Question 5

what happens when the copper ions reach the cathode?

Answer 5

they are deposited there as pure copper

Question 6

what happens to impurities at the anode?

Answer 6

they collect below the anode and form sludge

Question 7

what does inert mean?

Answer 7

unreactive

Question 8

what is produced at the cathode? (what is observed too?)

Answer 8

copper made - orange colour produced because copper is less reactive than hydrogen

Question 9

what is produced at the anode? (observed too?)

Answer 9

bubbling - oxygen gas produced

Question 10

what is the half equation for oxygen?

Answer 10

4OH- –> O2 + 2H20 + 4e-

Question 11

what is left over in the solution? (what is formed as consequence?)

Answer 11

SO4 + H (sulphuric acid is formed = H2SO4)