With the help of a suitable diagram, explain electrolytic refining of copper.
To purify copper, a thin plate of pure copper and a thick rod of impure copper are used as electrodes in the acidified solution of CuS04. Pure copper is used as cathode and impure copper is used as anode. When electric current is passed through the copper sulphate solution, copper sulphate dissociates into copper and sulphate. The free copper gets drawn to the electrode connected to the negative terminal of the battery and gets deposited on it. From impure copper electrode, an equal amount of copper gets dissolved in the solution. Thus, the loss of copper from solution is restored and the process continues. The impurities are left behind at anode.
