Investigating How the Current Affects The Mass Of Copper Collected At The Cathode

Investigating How the Current Affects The Mass Of Copper Collected At The Cathode

Aim:

The aim of this investigation is to find out how current affects the

amount of copper formed at the cathode, when using copper sulphate

solution and graphite electrodes.

Pre-test Results:

For my pre-test, I have gathered the following results:

Current

Volume of Copper Sulphate

Time

Mass of cathode before

Mass of cathode after

20.2 mA

50ml3

3 minutes

3.25g

3.27g

0.1A

50ml3

3 minutes

3.11g

3.12g

0.2A

40ml3

4 minutes

3.12g

3.14g

0.4A

25ml3

5 minutes

3.14g

3.17g

0.6A

50ml3

5 minutes

3.17g

3.19g

1A

30ml3

4 minutes

3.21g

3.24g

From the pre- test, I have decided:

v Time: 5 minutes

v Volume of Copper Sulphate Solution: 50 ml3

v Beaker size: 100ml3

v Range of Currents: 0.1A, 0.2A, 0.3A, 0.4A, 0.6A.

v Current: Amps

I decided to time the reaction for 5 minutes, because with lower

currents, not much copper was being deposited, so I decided t time for

5 minutes so that all the different masses could have some copper

collected.

Using 50 ml3 of copper sulphate solution, more ions would be present

in the solution so more ions would go to the electrodes and more

copper would be formed.

In a 100ml3 beaker, more of the electrodes are covered in the

solution, so more copper will form quicker.

I decided to use these currents, because there are doubles and

triples, so I will be able to find out if the mass and current is

directly proportionate to each other or not.

I will be measuring the current in amps because it is easier to

measure and read.