Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry 1SC0
Key Concepts in Chemistry
States of Matter and Mixtures
Chemical Changes
Extracting Metals and Equilibria
Groups in the Periodic Table
Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
Fuels and Earth Science
Chemical Changes
Electrolysis of copper sulfate solution
- 2 things to know
- Paper 3
Overview
How the anode loses mass and the cathode gains it when copper sulfate solution is electrolysed with copper electrodes, why the blue colour stays, and purifying copper with an impure anode, a pure cathode and copper sulfate electrolyte.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Describe what happens to the mass of the anode when copper sulfate solution is electrolysed using copper electrodes.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Describe what happens to the mass of the anode when copper sulfate solution is electrolysed using copper electrodes.
Model answer
The anode loses mass as copper from it goes into the solution.
- 2
Describe what happens to the cathode when copper sulfate solution is electrolysed using copper electrodes.
Model answer
It gains mass as a fresh layer of copper builds up on it.
- 3
Explain why the blue colour of the solution does not fade when copper sulfate solution is electrolysed with copper electrodes.
Model answer
Copper ions enter the solution from the anode as fast as they are removed at the cathode.
- 4
State which electrode is made of impure copper when copper is purified by electrolysis.
Model answer
The anode is made of the impure copper.
- 5
State what the cathode is made from when copper is purified by electrolysis.
Model answer
The cathode is a thin sheet of pure copper.
- 6
Explain what happens to the impurities in the copper during electrolytic purification.
Model answer
The impurities do not go into solution and collect as a sludge beneath the anode.
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