Question

If we do electrolysis of cuso4 then in formula w=zit the wight will be of cu or cuso4

• A. Cu
• B. CuSO4

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Cu

Answer 2

The formula given is Faraday's first law of electrolysis: $w = ZIt$.

Here, $w$ represents the mass of the substance deposited or liberated at an electrode.

In the electrolysis of $\text{CuSO}_4$ solution using inert electrodes, the reaction at the cathode is the reduction of copper ions:

$\text{Cu}^{2+}(\text{aq}) + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Cu(s)}$

This means that copper metal ($\text{Cu}$) is deposited at the cathode.

The substance that is deposited is copper ($\text{Cu}$). The formula $w = ZIt$ calculates the mass of this deposited substance.

Therefore, the weight $w$ in the formula $w = ZIt$ will be the weight of copper ($\text{Cu}$). It will not be the weight of $\text{CuSO}_4$, as $\text{CuSO}_4$ is the electrolyte that provides the ions ($\text{Cu}^{2+}$ and $\text{SO}_4^{2-}$) for the electrolysis, but it is the copper ions that are reduced and deposited as copper metal.