Amber Strauss

Electrolysis of copper sulphate solution Electrolysis is the chemical decomposition of an ionic compound by passing an electric current through it. The ionic compound must be molten or dissolved in water to allow the ions to be mobile, since it is the movement of ions that is needed for electrolysis to occur. The amount of product discharged at an electrode depends on: The amount of charge flowing through the circuit given as Q(C)=I(A) t(s) No. moles of e required to turn the ions in to molecules/atoms

Therefore these variables will be identified when formulating a research question for the electrolysis of copper sulphate solution. Research question: How does the mass of copper metal produced at the negative electrode (cathode) change when a solution of 1 mol dm-3 copper sulphate is electrolysed for 20 minutes at the different currents 0.5A, 0.75A, 1.0A, 1.5A and 2A using a variable resistor to alter the current? Electrolysis is a non-spontaneous reaction caused by electrical energy, therefore a power pack on 6V d.c. will be connected to allow the electroplating to occur. A variable resistor can be used to change the current in the circuit as I = therefore as the resistance is changed, the current through the

circuit is directly altered. The experiment will be shown as in figure 1, with the electrodes connected by electrical wires and a d.c. power supply and variable resistor connected in series.

Figure 1: Experiment set-up Copper electrodes will be used for both the cathode and the anode. This means that the Cu 2+ ions will be replenished in the solution, therefore the concentration of the solution will remain constant throughout the experiment. This will allow the concentration of solution needed to produce the estimated mass of copper metal deposited on the cathode to be calculated. Using Faradays law we can estimate the values for the chemicals to be used in the electrolysis. Faradays first law: Faradays second law: The mass of any element deposited during electrolysis is directly proportional to the number of coulombs of electricity passed (Charge = Q). The mass of the element deposited by one Faraday of electricity (95,500) is an to the atomic mass in grams of the element divided by the number of electrons required to discharge one ion of the element.

Amber Strauss

Therefore estimates for the moles of Cu produced at the cathode and hence the concentration of copper sulphate solution to be used can be calculated using the following equation: Moles of e- =

The value of copper metal deposited on the cathode when the current is 2A will be calculated. This current was chosen to estimate the greatest mass of copper deposited because as (I t) increases, due to either a greater current or longer time for the electrolysis, the resulting charge (Q) will increase since Q = I t. Therefore when the charge is inputted in the equation moles of e- = the resulting

moles of e- would be greater, giving more moles of Cu(s) and hence a greater mass. This mass produced will directly affect the concentration of the copper sulphate solution needed initially to produce a mass the estimated mass of copper deposited at the cathode. Estimated mass of Cu(s) produced: Q=It Q = 2 (6020) Q = 2400 C Moles of e- = Moles of e- =

Moles of e- = 2.49 10-2 Equation at the cathode: Cu2+ + 2e- Cu(s) 2 moles of e- produce 1 mole of Cu(s) Moles of Cu(s) = Moles of Cu(s) = 1.24 10 Mass = n Ar Mass of Cu(s) = 1.24 10-2 63.55 Mass of Cu(s) = 0.790g (0.001g) Appropriate resulting value for concentration of copper sulphate solution to be used as electrolyte Number of moles of copper sulphate solution should be number of moles of Cu(s) produced at cathode C= The volume of the copper sulphate solution should be enough to bathe the electrodes, therefore 100cm 3 was chosen as it is enough to allow the electrodes to be dipped in the solution. C=
-2

C = 0.249 mol dm-3 Therefore a 0.5 mol dm-3 of copper sulphate will be used, as it allows at least 0.790g (0.001g) of Cu (s) to form on the cathode, produced by the electrolysis at a current of 2A for 20 minutes. At the anode (+ve electrode) we would expect oxidation of copper metal to occur: Cu(s) Cu2+ + 2e-

Amber Strauss This is because the impure copper anode loses electrons and disintegrates. This replenishes the Cu 2+ ions in the solution, which are reduced at the cathode, and maintains the dark blue colour of the copper sulphate solution, which is due to the Cu2+ ion. Once the copper metal anode dissolves, electrolysis stops as the circuit is broken. Therefore, the mass lost by the anode is gained at the cathode. At the cathode (-ve electrode) we would expect reduction of Cu Cu2+ + 2e- Cu(s) In this way the cathode is electroplated with copper metal, as Cu(s) is deposited on the negative copper electrode. Therefore a pink/brown solid should be seen to form at the surface of the cathode, which is the deposition of solid copper metal.

Variables to be controlled Time: the time for the experiment must be kept constant for each repeat since Q = I t Concentration of electrolyte: the concentration of the electrolyte should be kept constant to keep the test fair, as increasing the concentration increases the number of ions in solution which will affect the disintegration of the copper anode and the resulting ions being produced at the cathode, as the resulting masses of the electrodes are going to be taken. Temperature: the temperature needs to be monitored during the experiment, as it has a direct effect on the energy of the ions in the solution, causing ions to be lost at a faster rate from the anode and deposited at a faster rate at the cathode Volume of electrolyte: increasing the volume will increase Cu2+ ions in the electrolyte, causing the anode made of copper metal to disintegrate at a slower rate, therefore affecting the resulting masses of the anode and cathode. Potential difference (voltage): directly proportional to the current therefore needs to be kept constant at 6V for this experiment. Independent variable: mass of Cu(s) produced at the cathode measured by taking the mass of the cathode before and after electrolysis and subtracting the difference. Dependent variable: current in the circuit altered by changing the resistance in the current using a variable resistor as I =

Apparatus 100cm3 0.5M Aqueous copper(II) sulphate 2 Copper metal strips for electrodes Container to do the electrolysis DC power supply (6V) Electrical wires and crocodile clips Variable resistor to change the current Stopwatch/timer Ammeter Pipette Accurate balance 0.001g

Amber Strauss 100cm3 Measuring cylinder

Method 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Set up the d.c. power supply, variable resistor and ammeter in series. Toggle the variable resistor and using the ammeter to make sure that the current is at the desired Amperes i.e. 2A Use the balance to get the initial mass of both copper electrodes and note down. Set up the experiment as shown in figure 1, making sure that the electrodes are not touching as this would cause a short circuit. Make sure that the circuit is properly connected Switch on the d.c. power supply to 6V Start the timer/stop watch At 20 minutes, turn off the power supply to stop the electrolysis. Disconnect the electrodes and measure the resulting mass of the cathode and the anode

10. Subtract the initial mass from the resulting mass for each electrode to determine the mass of copper lost and gained respectively during the electrolysis. 11. Repeat these steps 5 times per specific current to increase reliability of experiment, and repeat for the other current values.