Chemistry 9701 · AS & A Level · Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry — practice question

Electrolysis may be used both to purify copper and to extract aluminium from an aluminium oxide / cryolite mixture. What reactions occur at the anode in each of these processes?

  • APurification of copper: $\text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Cu}$; Extraction of aluminium: $2\text{O}^{2-} \rightarrow \text{O}_2 + 4e^-$
  • BPurification of copper: $\text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Cu}$; Extraction of aluminium: $4\text{OH}^- \rightarrow \text{O}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O} + 4e^-$
  • CPurification of copper: $\text{Cu} \rightarrow \text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^-$; Extraction of aluminium: $2\text{O}^{2-} \rightarrow \text{O}_2 + 4e^-$
  • DPurification of copper: $\text{Cu} \rightarrow \text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^-$; Extraction of aluminium: $4\text{OH}^- \rightarrow \text{O}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O} + 4e^-$

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