Problem statement: How is electrolysis used to electroplate an iron spoon with copper metal?

Hypothesis: Electroplating of an iron spoon with copper occurs if the iron spoon is used as the cathode, copper metal is used as the anode and aqueous copper(II)sulphate solution as the electrolyte. Variables: a) Manipulated variable: The position of the iron spoon as an Electrode. b)Responding variable: The deposition of copper on the iron spoon c) Controlled variable : Types of electrolyte and arrangement of Apparatus. Apparatus:

Materials: 1.0 mol dm-3 copper(II)sulphate solution, copper plate Procedure:

1.

About cm3 of 1.0 mol dm-3 copper(II)sulphate solution is poured into a beaker.

2. An iron spoon is polished using sandpaper and is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. The spoon acts as the cathode. 3. The piece of copper metal, as the anode, is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 4. The iron spoon and the copper metal are immersed in the copper(II)sulphate solution. The solution is electrolysed for 30 minutes using small current (0.5 A) 5. Steps 1 to 4 of the experiment are repeated by interchanging the positions of the iron spoon and copper metal, whereby the iron spoon is made the anode and the copper metal is made the cathode. Set Set 1: Iron spoon as the cathode, copper metal as the anode Observation At the cathode: A brown metal is deposited on the surface of the iron spoon . At the Anode: The copper anode become thinner Colour of the electrolyte: Colour intensity of the blue solution does not Inference The iron spoon is plated with copper metal The copper anode dissolves to form Cu2+ ions. Concentration of Cu2+ ions in the electrolyte remains constant

change

Set 2: Copper metal as the cathode, iron spoon as the anode

At the cathode: The copper plate becomes thicker.

Copper metal is deposited on the copper electrode.

At the anode: No noticeable change in the appearance of the iron spoon. Colour of the electrolyte : The blue colour of the solution becomes paler. Discussion:

Electroplating of copper on the iron spoon does not take place Concentration of Cu2+ ions in the electrolyte decreases

1. The brown metal deposited on the iron spoon is copper metal.

a)

At the anode : Copper dissolves from the anode by releasing electrons to form Cu2+ ions. Cu Cu2+ + 2e-

b)

At the cathode : Cu2+ ions are discharged by accepting electrons to form copper atoms. Copper metal is deposited on the surface of iron spoon. Cu2+ + 2e- Cu

2.

In this process, Cu2+ ions are transferred from the anode to the cathode ( Iron spoon ) and are deposited as a thin and even layer of copper metal. The colour intensity of the blue solution does not change because the concentration of Cu2+ ions remains constant throughout the electroplating process.

3.

4. A slow electrolysis process using a small current will ensure that the layer of copper sticks firmly to the surface of the iron spoon. Conclusion:
1.

In electroplating an iron spoon with copper using electrolysis, the iron spoon is made the cathode and a piece of copper metal is made the anode.

2. Copper metal is transferred from the copper anode to the iron spoon and is deposited as a thin layer of copper metal 3. Electroplating does not take place if the iron spoon is made the anode. The hypothesis is accepted.