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Purified copper contains at least 99.8% copper - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 9 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 9
Purified copper contains at least 99.8% copper. Purified copper is used in electronic devices because it is a good electrical conductor and resists corrosion. Purif... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Purified copper contains at least 99.8% copper - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 9 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Explain what happens to the Au, Zn and Pb with reference to the electrochemical series
Answer
In the electrochemical series, the positions of metals determine their ability to be oxidized or reduced.
- Gold (Au): As gold is a noble metal, it does not undergo oxidation and will not dissolve in the electrolyte, remaining intact at the anode.
- Zinc (Zn): Zinc is more reactive than copper and will oxidize preferentially at the anode, dissolving into solution as Zn²⁺ ions. This oxidation can be represented as:
ightarrow ext{Zn}^{2+} (aq) + 2e^{-}$$
- Lead (Pb): Lead is also oxidized at the anode, where it will dissolve into the solution as Pb²⁺ ions. The oxidation reaction is:
ightarrow ext{Pb}^{2+} (aq) + 2e^{-}$$
The copper ions ( ext{Cu}^{2+}) from the electrolyte will undergo reduction at the cathode, depositing pure copper as follows:
ightarrow ext{Cu} (s)$$