Question

How electrolytic refining a copper is carried out ? Explain in detail .

Answer 1

The electrolytic refining of copper is done using the apparatus shown in the figure.

This is a standard electrolysis setup, where the impure copper (the sample to be refined) is placed as anode and a thin strip of pure copper is placed as a cathode. The electrolyte used is copper sulfate solution. When current is passed through the electrolyte pure copper content from the anode dissolves into the electrolyte, and the same amount of copper is deposited on the cathode. One can see that the thickness of the cathode increases. The soluble impurities present in the anode gas into the solution when the current flows through the setup. The insoluble impurities present in the anode settle down electrolytically.