An Investigation Into the Electrolysis Of Copper Sulphate Solution

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An Investigation Into the Electrolysis Of Copper Sulphate Solution

Skill Area P (Planning Experimental Procedures)

During the work topic 'Electrochemistry,' a procedure was demonstrated in which copper sulphate solution was electrolysed. Using copper-foil electrodes, a current of 0.2A was passed through a circuit, and into the solution. After 20 minutes, it seemed that not a lot had happened, however, when at the end of this time we re-weighed the anode (positive electrode) and the cathode (negative electrode), it was discovered that the anode had lost some of it's initial mass, and the cathode had gained in mass. The loss of anode mass equalled the gain of mass on the cathode. This makes it known that by passing a constant electric current through an aqueous copper sulphate solution that the passage of ions through this solution results in copper atoms being dissolved into the solution from the anode while positive copper ions (cations) being discharged at the cathode. Normally anions are discharged at the anode.

The splitting of the copper sulphate solution into its constituent elements, copper and sulphur, by electricity is known as electrolysis and the copper gained on the cathode is known as the electrolyte.