Refining metals

• Refining metals:

  • Cathode: thin strip of pure metal
  • Anode: impure metal
  • Electrolyte: Aqueous Salt Solution of metal
• Refining of copper: Impure copper as the anode and pure copper as the cathode; the aqueous copper (II) sulfate helps the copper ions move from the anode to the cathode.

  
• In refining copper the ions gain electrons and become copper atoms, making the pure copper cathode thicker.
• What is a cathode made from?


  thin strip of pure metal
• What is an anode made from?


  impure metal