Electron’s Charge

Name ______________________________ PHY _______________

The purpose of this experiment is to measure the charge of the electron by electrolysis.

Electrolysis is the passage of an electric current through an electrolyte with the associated
migration of the positive and negative ions toward the electrodes. The electrolyte in this
experiment is a solution of copper sulfate (CuSO 4) in water. The ions are Cu ++ and SO4−−
which have charges +2e and −2e.

The electrodes are conductors connecting the electrolyte in an electric circuit with a dc
power supply. If a constant current I is maintained through the electrolyte for a period of
time t, then the total charge which passes through the electrolyte is Q=It. The current is
measured by a dc ammeter connected in the circuit loop.

In this experiment the electrodes are copper plates. The power supply maintains charges
on the electrodes. The negative electrode attracts positive copper ions. At the negative
electrode a copper ion acquires two electrons forming a neutral copper atom which
coheres to the copper surface. This process is known as electroplating.

DATA ACQUISITION

Do not touch the electrodes. Pick up the clean electrodes using the alligator connectors
on the circuit wires. Measure the initial mass of the negative electrode with a balance to
the nearest 0.01 g:

m1 = __________ g.

Fill a beaker with the electrolyte. Use alligator connectors to hold the electrodes in the
electrolyte through slits in the support. Simultaneously start the timer, turn on the power
supply, and set the current to I=0.40 A. (If the ammeter deflection is backwards, turn off
the power supply and reverse the connections to the ammeter. Restart the timer.) During
the run, if necessary, adjust the power supply knob to keep the current constant. Turn the
power supply off at t=30.0 min. Leave the used electrolyte and electrodes by the sink.
We do not pour copper sulfate down the drain.

Slide the negative electrode through the bottom of the support using another alligator
connector. Dry the negative electrode over the lab sink using a gentle spray of acetone,
which evaporates very rapidly removing the water adhering to the electrode. Measure the
final mass of the dry electrode with the balance to the nearest 0.01 g:

m2 = __________ g.

WARNING: Spray the acetone into the sink. Take care not to spray it on someone.
DATA ANALYSIS

If you measure the mass increase Δm of the negative electrode, you can find the number
N of copper atoms plated since the mass of one copper atom may be calculated. Your
experimental value of the electronic charge eexp is then found from N(2e)=Q.

The mass of one mole of copper is M=63.55 g. One mole of a substance contains
Avogadro’s number of molecules: NA=6.022x1023. The mass of an atom is m atom=M/NA.
Calculate matom:

matom = ____________ g.

The number of atoms plated is N=Δm/matom, where Δm is the mass of copper plated.
(This should be about 0.25 g in this experiment.) Calculate Δm and N:

Δm = ________ g

and

N = ________________.

The total charge which passes through the cell is Q=It. Calculate Q:

Q = _________ C.

Calculate your experimental value for e from the condition N(2e)=Q or eexp=Q/(2N):

eexp = ___________ C.

Calculate the percent error: % Error=(|eexp−etrue|/etrue)x100%. Note that etrue=1.6x10−19 C.

% Error = ______ %