Uses of Electrolysis

• Purification of Copper


  • impure copper is purified
  • the anode is impure copper while the cathode is pure copper
  • the electrolyte contains copper (II) ions
  • at the anode, copper is oxidised to copper (II) ion, the anode becomes smaller and decreases in mass with time
  • at the cathode, copper (II) ions are reduced to copper. the mass of copper deposited on the cathode increases with time
  • concentration of copper (II) ions in the electrolyte remains the same during electrolysis
• Electroplating


  • electrolysis can be used to coat objects with a thin layer of metal
  • cathode is the object to be electroplated while the anode is the metal used for electroplating
  • the mass of the coating increases over time
  • a coating can be added to prevent corrosion