Electrolysis involves using electricity to break down electrolytes to

form elements. The products of electrolysis can be predicted for a

given electrolyte. Copper can be purified using Electrolysis. Electricity
is passed through solutions containing copper compounds, such as
copper(ii) sulfate. The anode (positive electrode) is made from impure
copper and the cathode (negative electrode) is made from pure copper.
An example of electrolysis using reactive electrodes is the
electrolysis of copper (II) sulfate using copper electrodes for the
cathode and anode.
At the cathode, copper(II) ions will be deposited, hence a
pink/brown solid is formed and the cathode increases in size. This is
because copper(II) ions are preferentially discharged as copper is
lower than hydrogen in the electrochemical series.
Cu2+ (aq) + 2e----- Cu(s) (Reduction)
Reduction happens at the cathode because electrons are gained.
At the anode, copper anode dissolves/ionizes because copper is a
reactive electrode. Copper dissolves to form copper(II) ions, this
results in a loss of copper metal in the anode. The copper that is
deposited in the cathode is replaced by the copper that is dissolved
from the anode. Hence the blue color in the solution remains blue.
Cu(2)--- Cu2+(aq) +2e- ( Oxidization)
Oxidation happens at the anode because electrons are lost.
The quantity of electrical charge which has flowed in a circuit is
calculated by multiplying the current which flowed (in amperes, A) by
the time for which that current flowed (in seconds, s). Electrical
charge is measured in coulombs ©.
charge= current x time
Q=Ixt
15 minutes= 15 X 60=900s
current= 10A
charge= current X time
= 1o X 900
=9000 C
Moles of copper dissolved from the anode:
1.0 mol of copper atoms liberate 2.0 mol of electrons
9000 / 96500 * 2 =0.047 mol of copper dissolved from the anode

Mass of copper dissolved at the anode:

Mass (in g)= moles X Mr
= 0.047 X 64
= 3g