Question

In the electrolysis of aqueous solution of $ CuSO_4$ using copper electrodes, the process taking place at the anode is

• A. $ SO_{4}^{2-}\rightarrow SO_{4}+2e^{-} $
• B. $ Cu\rightarrow Cu^{+}+e^{-} $
• C. $ 2OH^{-}\rightarrow H_{2}O+\frac{1}{2}O_{2}+2e^{-} $
• D. $ Cu\rightarrow Cu^{2+}+2e^{-} $

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

When aqueous solution of $CuSO _{4}$ is subjected to electrolysis, the following reactions take place at cathode and anode.
$CuSO _{4} \rightarrow Cu ^{2+}+ SO _{4}^{2-}$
At cathode: $C u^{2+}+2 e^{-} \rightarrow C u$
At anode: $2 OH ^{-} \rightarrow H _{2} O +\frac{1}{2} O _{2}+2 e^{-}$