Question

What are the products of the electrolysis of copper sulphate solution.

Answer 1

In the process of electrolysis the electric current is passed to the electrolyte. Here electrolyte is a solution of Copper Sulphate. The electrolysis gives the pure metal at cathode. The electrodes which are used here are copper electrodes. We get Copper at cathode and other products at anode. The reaction which takes place at anode and cathode are redox reactions.

Complete answer: Electrolysis is the process in which when current is passed through an electrolyte with the help of two electrodes , the positive ions of solution come towards the negative electrode and negative ions come towards the positive electrode.
When the $C{u_2}S{O_4}$ is used as an electrolyte it splits into ions which are
$C{u_2}S{O_4}{\text{ }}\xrightarrow{{}}{\text{ C}}{{\text{u}}^{ + 2}}{\text{ + S}}{{\text{O}}_4}^{ - 2}$
Here ${\text{C}}{{\text{u}}^{ + 2}}$ is the anion which will move toward the negative electrode cathode when the electric current passes through the electrode.
At cathode:
$C{u^{ + 2}}{\text{ + 2e }}\xrightarrow{{}}{\text{ Cu}}$
At anode:
${\text{ Cu }}\xrightarrow{{}}{\text{ }}C{u^{ + 2}}{\text{ + 2e}}$
Thus reduction and oxidation of copper takes place. The sulphate ions move freely in the solution. Hence we get copper deposited at the cathode and this is the pure copper we get. The deposit which we get on cathode is generally a powder and uneven.

Note:
When the amount of electricity used is small then this deposition of copper on the cathode is used for the electroplating purposes. Electroplating prevents the metal piece from getting corroded easily. This is also a method of electrolysis. If we use inert electrodes in place of copper electrodes then there will be an evolution of hydrogen gas at anode. The electrolyte is prepared by first adding the water into it so that its ions can easily be broken.