Chapter 18, Problem 18.64QP

Industrially, copper metal can be purified electrolytically according to the following arrangement. The anode is made of the impure Cu electrode and the cathode is the pure Cu electrode. The electrodes are immersed in a CuSO₄ solution. (a) Write the half-cell reactions at the electrodes. (b) Calculate the mass (in grams) of Cu purified after passing a current of 20 A for 10 h. (c) Explain why impurities such as Zn, Fe, Au, and Ag are not deposited at the electrodes.