Name: ________________________

The positive anode reaction Date: _______________

with copper electrodes

Its the copper anode that is the crucial difference than electrolysing copper sulfate solution with a inert
carbon/graphite/platinum electrode.

electron discharge Cu2+(aq electrodes positive

reduced sulfate copper purification plating
negative mass coated

The ________________ sulphate ions SO42- (from copper sulfate) or the traces of hydroxide ions OH

(from water) are attracted to the ________________ electrode. But both the sulfate ion and hydroxide ion

are too stable and nothing happens to them because the copper anode is preferentially oxidised to

__________________ Cu2+ copper ions.

An oxidation electrode reaction at the positive anode

(+) Cu(s) 2e ==> ______________) (copper dissolves, oxidation - 2 electrons lost)

or Cu(s) ==> Cu(s) + 2e

atom oxidation by ________________ loss

A balancing act !

copper atoms oxidised to copper(II) ions: dissolving of copper in its electrolytic purification or electroplating

(must have positive copper anode). The change involves two electrons per copper atom.

copper(II) ion ______________ to copper atoms: deposition of copper in its electrolytic

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________________________ or electroplating using copper(II) sulphate solution, so the electrode can be

copper or other metal to be plated OR any other conducting material. The change involves two electrons

per copper ion.

This means for every ____________ atom that gets oxidised, one copper ion is reduced, therefore ...

When copper electrodes are used in the electrolysis of copper ______________ solution, the mass loss of

copper from the positive anode electrode should equal the mass of copper gained and deposited on the

negative cathode electrode.

You can show this by weighing both ____________________ at the start of the experiment. After the

current has passed for some time, carefully extract the electrodes from the solution, wash them, dry them

and reweigh them. The gain in mass of the cathode should be about the same as the loss of ________ from

the anode.

Metal electrodes dipped in aqueous salt solutions

For electroplating in general: The negative cathode electrode is made the metal/conducting surface to be

____________, and the positive anode electrode is made of the ______________ metal which dissolves

and replaces any deposit formed on the cathode -which is the conducting article to be electroplated.

Created at Quickworksheets.net Page 2

 TEACHER ANSWER SHEET

The positive anode reaction

with copper electrodes

Its the copper anode that is the crucial difference than electrolysing copper sulfate solution with a inert
carbon/graphite/platinum electrode.

electron discharge Cu2+(aq electrodes positive

reduced sulfate copper purification plating
negative mass coated

The negative sulphate ions SO42- (from copper sulfate) or the traces of hydroxide ions OH (from

water) are attracted to the positive electrode. But both the sulfate ion and hydroxide ion are too stable

and nothing happens to them because the copper anode is preferentially oxidised to discharge Cu2+

copper ions.

An oxidation electrode reaction at the positive anode

(+) Cu(s) 2e ==> Cu2+(aq ) (copper dissolves, oxidation - 2 electrons lost)

or Cu(s) ==> Cu(s) + 2e

atom oxidation by electron loss

A balancing act !

copper atoms oxidised to copper(II) ions: dissolving of copper in its electrolytic purification or electroplating

(must have positive copper anode). The change involves two electrons per copper atom.

copper(II) ion reduced to copper atoms: deposition of copper in its electrolytic purification or

Created at Quickworksheets.net Page 3

electroplating using copper(II) sulphate solution, so the electrode can be copper or other metal to be plated

OR any other conducting material. The change involves two electrons per copper ion.

This means for every copper atom that gets oxidised, one copper ion is reduced, therefore ...

When copper electrodes are used in the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution, the mass loss of copper

from the positive anode electrode should equal the mass of copper gained and deposited on the negative

cathode electrode.

You can show this by weighing both electrodes at the start of the experiment. After the current has

passed for some time, carefully extract the electrodes from the solution, wash them, dry them and reweigh

them. The gain in mass of the cathode should be about the same as the loss of mass from the anode.

Metal electrodes dipped in aqueous salt solutions

For electroplating in general: The negative cathode electrode is made the metal/conducting surface to be

coated , and the positive anode electrode is made of the plating metal which dissolves and replaces

any deposit formed on the cathode -which is the conducting article to be electroplated.

Created at Quickworksheets.net Page 4