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RSC Education
edu.rsc.org › experiments › electrolysis-of-copperii-sulfate-solution › 476.article
Electrolysis of copper(II) sulfate solution | Class experiment | RSC Education
July 14, 2025 - Explore the electrolysis of copper(II) sulfate solution and related industrial processes with this class experiment. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Electrical4U
electrical4u.com › principle-of-electrolysis-of-copper-sulfate-electrolyte
Principle of Electrolysis of Copper Sulfate Electrolyte | Electrical4U
Whenever copper sulfate or CuSO4 is added to water, it gets dissolved in the water. As CuSO4 is an electrolyte, it splits into Cu+ + (cation) and SO4 − − (anion) ions and move freely in the solution.
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BBC
bbc.co.uk › bitesize › guides › zgn8b82 › revision › 3
Practical- electrolysis of copper sulfate solution - Electrolysis - Edexcel - GCSE Combined Science Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize
March 7, 2024 - There are a number of ways to investigate the electrolysiscloseelectrolysisThe decomposition (breakdown) of a compound using an electric current. of copper sulfate solution in GCSE Chemistry.
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IOPSpark
spark.iop.org › electrolysis-copper-sulfate-solution
Electrolysis of copper sulfate solution | IOPSpark
Like all metal ions, and hydrogen, the blue copper ions carry positive charges and the sulfate ions carry negative charges.
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savemyexams.com › gcse › chemistry › edexcel › 18 › revision-notes › 3-chemical-changes › 3-2-electrolytic-processes › 3-2-5-core-practical-electrolysis-of-copperiisulfate
Electrolysis of copper(II) sulfate - GCSE Chemistry Revision Notes
November 29, 2024 - GCSEChemistryEdexcelRevision Notes3. Chemical changesElectrolytic ProcessesCore Practical: Electrolysis of Copper(II)Sulfate ... Place two graphite rods into the copper sulfate solution.
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RSC Education
edu.rsc.org › experiments › quantitative-electrolysis-of-aqueous-copperii-sulfate › 1883.article
Quantitative electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulfate | Demonstration | RSC Education
July 14, 2025 - Fill the beaker with copper(II) sulfate solution to just below the crocodile clips. Start the stop clock and switch on the current, setting the rheostat so that a current of 0.50 A passes through the solution. The current alters slightly throughout the electrolysis, so it is important to make continual adjustments to the rheostat to keep the current constant.
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Online Math Learning
onlinemathlearning.com › electrolysis-copper-sulphate.html
Electrolysis Copper Sulphate (solutions, examples, activities, experiment, videos)
Set up an electrolysis cell using graphite rods as electrodes and copper(II) sulphate solution as electrolyte.
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Scribd
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LR 1 Electrolysis of Copper Sulphate | PDF | Anode
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There are a few key factors that I expect are contributing here:

  • $\ce{CuSO4}$ concentration – If your $\left[\ce{Cu^2+}\!\right]$ in solution is low, then that will disfavor deposition, as permeakra noted in a comment. You want at least $25$ to $100~\mathrm{g\over L}$ of copper in the electrolyte.

  • Cell voltage – $15~\mathrm V$ is an exorbitantly high voltage for copper electrodeposition. In order to avoid gassing at the cathode, you'll want to operate down in the $1.5$ to $2.0~\mathrm V$ range, tops.

  • Electrolyte conductivity – you don't mention anywhere that you've added other constituents to try to increase the conductivity.

    • If this is a home experiment, I would try dissolving the $\ce{CuSO4}$ in table or pickling vinegar instead of plain water. That will give you more charge carriers in solution, and also decrease the $\mathrm{pH}$, both of which should help.

    • If this is a school or work experiment with access to proper lab equipment and chemicals disposal services, I would use $1\%$ to $10\%~\ce{H2SO4}$ as the base electrolyte. That will really get your conductivity up, and your cell voltage down.

Finally, on the methods side, I would recommend choosing your voltage in order to initially target a current density in the vicinity of $\sim\!10~\mathrm{mA\over cm^2}$, as a value where I would expect to see little to no $\ce{H2}$ evolution. You can always nudge the voltage up from there as needed.

Is $\ce{H2}$ generation happening as a result of the weak sulfuric acid in solution?

Almost certainly not.

Can you calculate the products of simultaneous electrochemistry reactions?

Not with much certainty. Most of the time the best one can do is make qualitative arguments about what reactions might be happening. Detailed modeling of all reactions occurring at an electrode is still prohibitively difficult, as far as I know.

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Hydrogen evolution will be favored by increased hydrogen concentration (lower pH). As the copper plates out, the Cu++ ion is replaced by H+. The very first plating out should be with the least hydrogen, and then hydrogen gas evolved should increase as the electrolysis continues. How can we reduce the pH without precipitating the copper?

I have not done the experiment, but I think that adding a bit of ammonia would convert the H+ to NH4+ and raise the pH enough to reduce hydrogen evolution without precipitating copper (Cu++ --> soluble Cu(NH3)4++). You might get more creative and use other amines.

Cell voltage is important also, as suggested in the comments. High current forces something to deposit; copper is preferred, but if the current demands, hydrogen will deposit also.

If you want to get really inventive, you might consider a cathodic poison that is not incorporated into the copper deposit. Mercury would work, but is a no-no for many reasons; sulfur and arsenic compounds also probably not good; maybe a long chain water-soluble polymer, or maybe even a sugar would coat the copper cathode and interfere with hydrogen deposition without becoming incorporated. Good luck!

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Fctemis
fctemis.org › notes › 9942_Electrolysis of CuSO4 using carbon electrode.pdf pdf
Electrolysis of CuSO4 using carbon electrode
The electrolysis of copper sulfate (CuSO₄) using carbon electrodes is an · electrochemical process in which an electric current is passed through an · aqueous solution of CuSO₄, resulting in chemical reactions at the electrodes · and the deposition of copper.
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Physicsmax
physicsmax.com › home › electrolysis of copper sulphate solution using platinum or carbon electrodes
Electrolysis of copper sulphate solution using platinum or carbon electrodes Physics Homework Help, Physics Assignments and Projects Help, Assignments Tutors online
August 12, 2014 - Copper sulphate solution contains Cu2+ ions and SO/ – ions together with H + and OH – ions from the water. During electrolysis, Cu2+ and H+ ions: migrate to the cathode, but only the Cu2+ ions are discharged. The H + ions remain in solution. As each Cu2 + ion is discharged it becomes a ...
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ResearchGate
researchgate.net › figure › Electrolysis-of-copper-sulphate-solution_fig1_266172446
Electrolysis of copper sulphate solution. | Download Scientific Diagram
Download scientific diagram | ... characterizations", Int | This work reports a simple, novel, cost effective and eco-friendly electrolytic synthesis of copper nanoparticles using copper sulphate as metal precursor....
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YouTube
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Electrolysis Of Copper(ii) Sulphate Using Copper Electrodes - YouTube
We look at the nature of the reactions that take place when copper electrodes are used in electrolysis of copper(ii) sulphate solution.We note the formation ...
Published   December 25, 2021
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Hint: Think which reactions take place at anode and cathode. Write down the reactions happening during electrolysis of copper sulphate solution. Assign the reactions based on their type to anode and cathode.Complete step by step answer:- Electrolysis is the process in which an electrolyte, in this case copper sulphate solution, undergoes redox reactions at the electrodes due to the action of electric current.- When copper sulphate dissociates to form cupric ions and sulphate ions. This reaction can be represented as,\\[CuS{{O}_{4}}\\rightleftharpoons C{{u}^{2+}}+SO_{4}^{2-}\\]-At Cathode, reduction takes place. Cupric ions present in the electrolyte gain two electrons and get converted to copper metal. This copper metal is deposited on copper electrodes.\\[C{{u}^{2+}}+2{{e}^{-}}\\to Cu\\]Since this reduction reaction occurs at cathode, copper electrode is the cathode.-At anode, oxidation takes place. Copper sulphate solution has water as solvent. These water molecules get dissociated due to action of current to form protons and hydroxyl ions. Protons combine with sulphate ions present in the solution to form sulphuric acid. Now, the hydroxyl ions present in the solution undergo oxidation to liberate oxygen gas at anode. This reaction is represented as,$2O{{H}^{-}}\\to {{H}_{2}}O+{}^{1}\/{}_{2}{{O}_{2}}+2{{e}^{-}}$-Therefore, during the electrolysis of aqueous solution of $CuS{{O}_{4}}$ using copper electrodes, the process taking place at the anode is (C) $2O{{H}^{-}}\\to {{H}_{2}}O+{}^{1}\/{}_{2}{{O}_{2}}+2{{e}^{-}}$So, the correct answer is “Option C”.Note: Remember in electrolytic reactions, at anode only oxidation will take place and at cathode, reduction takes place. LOAN = Left oxidation anode and CAR = Cathode reduction are tips to remember this concept.
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Iron, Aluminum and Zinc are all significantly more reactive than Copper, so they will react with the Copper Sulfate and displace the Copper. I'm assuming that's not what you're trying to do, so you'll likely have to use an inert metal (Platinum, Gold, Silver) that conducts electricity well as your anode.

Edit: When I say that Iron, Aluminium and Zinc are more reactive, what I mean is they have a greater electropositivity compared to Copper and are, therefore, more likely to donate/lose electrons to form positive ions.

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The first step should be to ask a question so that you can get an answer which gives you data that you can analyze and discuss. Research generally tries to ask a question that results in some improvement for the world. How to better electrowin copper would be a good question. It seems that you are not just looking to move copper from one electrode to the other, but to understand what might be going on within the solution, because, after all, impure copper in one place is not that different from pure copper in another place.

What is the question that changing anode materials will answer? Different anode materials may dissolve (or not) and change the composition of the solution, which could be desirable, or it might be considered a contamination. Different anode materials will give different voltage vs current curves, because active metals will assist the electrolysis.

In a commercial environment, purifying copper should be routine until the solution becomes so loaded with active metal contaminants that voltage adjustments have to be made to continue plating purest copper, and now a decision has to be made about disposing of the solution. More noble contaminants, like silver and gold would precipitate.

So what could you do with a solution of copper sulfate and ferrous sulfate? Zinc has been mentioned as a frequent impurity, but in large operations, nickel is the soluble impurity of considerable value https://metalrecyclingmachines.com/metal-recycling/metal-recovery-systems/copper-electrolytic-refining-plant.html Lower pH keeps some metal hydroxides in solution rather than precipitating, but will increase the electricity needed to transport a given amount of copper. Nickel sulfate may not be available for you, so I suppose ferrous sulfate could be used.

Perhaps you could pick one anode material and vary the solution to mimic the end of life solution loaded with impurities (in your case, ferrous sulfate). In this case, an iron anode would seem best. Then with variable ratios of copper to iron (and perhaps at a couple of pHs, since this could be changed to assist the process), what voltages, or probably better, what current densities (amps/cm^2) are optimal for squeezing the last bit of copper out of the solution? So the anode could remain the same composition, but vary in area. (You will also have to try just dumping in a wad of steel wool - skip the electrolysis. This is an out-of-the-box shot to just see what will happen. No guarantees.) I suspect that too low a current takes too long but will give pure copper output (as seen on a stainless wire cathode), while a high current density will get the copper out of the solution faster, but it might be contaminated (how? air, iron, solution - I don't know).

Good luck. Be safe.