(a) State two applications of electrolysis. (b) Explain what is meant by the electrochemical equivalent of copper is 3.3 x 10\(^{-7}\) kgC\(^{-1}\)
Question 1 Report
(a) State two applications of electrolysis.
(b) Explain what is meant by the electrochemical equivalent of copper is 3.3 x 10\(^{-7}\) kgC\(^{-1}\)
Answer Details
(a) Two applications of electrolysis
- Electroplating (coating an object with a layer of metal, e.g. chromium or silver plating).
- Purification (refining) of metals such as copper.
(Other acceptable uses: extraction of reactive metals like aluminium; electrotyping; production of chemicals such as chlorine and caustic soda.)
(b) Meaning of "the electrochemical equivalent of copper is \(3.3\times10^{-7}\ \text{kg C}^{-1}\)"
The electrochemical equivalent (\(z\)) of copper is the mass of copper deposited (or liberated) by a charge of one coulomb during electrolysis. So the statement means that a charge of 1 coulomb passing through a copper solution deposits \(3.3\times10^{-7}\ \text{kg}\) of copper. From Faraday's first law, \(m = z\,It\), where \(I\) is the current and \(t\) the time.
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