An Investigation into Electrolysis - Copper Sulphate

An Investigation into Electrolysis - Copper Sulphate

Introduction

Decomposition caused by electricity is called electrolysis. The

electrical energy causes a chemical change. When a salt is dissolved

in water, its ions become free to move so the solution can be

"electrolyzed." The products of the electrolysis depend on the

chemical solution, its strength and the type of electrode. The cathode

is negatively charged and therefore attracts to it positive ions. E.g.

hydrogen. The more reactive substance stays in the solution whereas

the less reactive is released and appears as a gas (hydrogen) or a

coating of metal. At the anode (positively charged) the negative

charges are given up; for example chlorine or oxygen ions become

elements.

Electrolysis is used to produce gases or purify metals.

PLAN

Aim: To find out if the current being transferred through copper

sulphate affects the amount of copper transferred.

Prediction: I predict that as the amount of electrical current is

passed through the copper sulphate solution more copper will be

transferred. I also predict that the rise in electrical current and

the rise in copper transferred will be related, and follow a trend.

e.g.

Text Box: Copper Transferred[IMAGE]

I believe that as the current doubles so will the amount of copper

transferred.

E.g. 1amp = 0.1 gram of copper transferred - 2amps = 0.2 grams of

copper transferred.

I think this will happen because it is logical that when something is

doubled the affected will be doubled as well. Also to back up my

theory is Faraday's Law:

Faraday's First Law of electrolysis states that:

"The mass of any element deposited during electrolysis is directly

proportional to the number of coulombs of electricity passed"

Faraday's Second Law of electrolysis states that:

"The mass of an element deposited by one Faraday of electricity is

equal to the atomic mass in grams of the element divided by the number

of electrons required to discharge one ion of the element."

Research:

I have researched other possible ways to work out a rough idea of what