Purifying Copper

Copper is purified using electrolysis, an energy-intensive process. The setup involves a pure copper sheet at the cathode and an impure sheet at the anode, with copper sulfate as the electrolyte. Copper ions move between the anode and cathode, allowing oxidation and reduction. At the cathode, copper ions are deposited, increasing its size, while the anode dissolves, leaving behind sludge containing valuable metals like silver and gold. The process maintains the solution's concentration, and the copper sulfate solution is replaced if zinc ions accumulate.

What is the process used to purify copper metal?

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Describe the role of the cathode and anode in the electrolysis process.

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What ions are present in the copper sulfate electrolyte?

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What happens to the size of the cathode strip during electrolysis?

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Why might industries not immediately dispose of the anode sludge?

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