Saturday, August 13, 2011

What reaction is occurring at the anode?

In lab, we constructed an electrolytic cell with a solution of CuSO4 in a beaker. We then attached a silver coin (quarter) with a wire to the negative side of a 6V battery, making it the cathode. We attached a piece of copper with a wire to the positive side, making it the anode. Once this happened, the copper began to plate onto the quarter. So from this description, the reaction at the anode is Cu+2 + 2e- ----> Cu. But what happens at the anode? Would I record that SO4-2 + 4H+ + 2e- ----> H2SO3 + H20? Or would I record the reverse of the reaction at the cathode where Cu ----> Cu+2 + 2e-? Please help me out! Thanks

No comments:

Post a Comment