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sulfate solution
The electrolyte copper(II) sulfate, provides a high concentration of copper(II) ions Cu 2+ and sulfate ions
SO42 to carry the current during the electrolysis process. There are small concentrations of hydrogen ions
H+ and hydroxide ions (OH) from the self-ionisation of water itself, but these can be ignored in this
experiment.
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.
sulfate) ______ ____ ________ __________ water). Only the ____________ ion ____
______________________ being reduced to copper ____________ ______ ________
________________ __ ____________ the ________ readily ______ ______ is
______ ______ ______ any ______ collected above the negative electrode.
discharged, / are / gas / so / you / not / traces / not / see
the cathode
colour / deposit / blue / fade / ions / the / the / on / are / the / copper
The electrolyte copper(II) sulfate, provides a high concentration of copper(II) ions Cu 2+ and sulfate ions
SO42 to carry the current during the electrolysis process. There are small concentrations of hydrogen ions
H+ and hydroxide ions (OH) from the self-ionisation of water itself, but these can be ignored in this
experiment.
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.
1. The products of electrolysing copper sulfate solution with inert electrodes (carbon/graphite or
platinum) are copper metal and oxygen gas.
2. The negative cathode electrode attracts Cu2+ ions (from copper sulfate) and H+ ions (from water).
Only the copper ion is discharged, being reduced to copper metal. The less reactive a metal, the
Cu2+ / The / and / reduced / its / reactive / more / copper / a / metal. / ion / ions
/ discharged, / H+ / cathode / negative / surface. / (from / less / is / metal,
3. A copper deposit forms as the positive copper ions are attracted to the negative electrode (cathode)
==> / 2e / +
5. The traces of hydrogen ions are not discharged, so you not see any gas collected above the negative
electrode.
colour / deposit / blue / fade / ions / the / the / on / are / the / copper
7. Oxygen gas is formed at the positive electrode, an oxidation reaction (electron loss).
8. The negative sulphate ions (SO42-) or the traces of hydroxide ions (OH) are attracted to the positive
electrode. But the sulfate ion is too stable and nothing happens. Instead either hydroxide ions or
water molecules are discharged and oxidised to form oxygen.
==> / 4e / / +