Chemistry 0620 · IGCSE · Electrolysis

Electrolysis — practice question

In the electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulfate with copper electrodes, what ionic half-equations represent the reactions occurring at each electrode?

  • Aanode: $\text{Cu} \rightarrow \text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^{-}$; cathode: $\text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^{-} \rightarrow \text{Cu}$
  • Banode: $\text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^{-} \rightarrow \text{Cu}$; cathode: $\text{Cu} \rightarrow \text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^{-}$
  • Canode: $4\text{OH}^{-} \rightarrow 2\text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{O}_2 + 4e^{-}$; cathode: $\text{Cu}^{2+} + 2e^{-} \rightarrow \text{Cu}$
  • Danode: $4\text{OH}^{-} \rightarrow 2\text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{O}_2 + 4e^{-}$; cathode: $2\text{H}^{+} + 2e^{-} \rightarrow \text{H}_2$

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