Question

State your observation for the following electrolytic reaction
Aqueous copper sulphate is electrolysed between platinum electrodes.

Answer 1

When the electrolysis of copper sulphate(aqueous) is electrolysed between platinum electrodes the following reaction follows :
\[\ce{CuSO4  ⇌ Cu^{+2} + SO^{2-}4 }\]

\[\ce{H2O ⇌ H+ + OH-}\]

Reaction at cathode : Copper ions and hydrogen ions migrate towards the cathode, `"Cu"^(+2)` ions being lower in the electrochemical series are preferentially discharged to hydrogen ions to form neutral copper atoms at platinum cathode.
\[\ce{Cu^{+2} + 2^{e-} -> Cu}\]

Reaction at anode : Sulphate ions and hydroxyl ions migrate towards the anode, Hydroxyl ions are preferentially discharged to sulphate ions at anode, to form neutral particles of `"OH"^-`, The electrically neutral hydroxyl reacts
among themselves to give water and oxygen.
\[\ce{OH- - e- -> OH}\]
\[\ce{4(OH) ->[-4e-] 2H2O + O2}\]