During purification of a metal by electrolysis, what happens at the negativeelectrode?(a) Metal ions lose electrons to become neutral atoms.(b) Neutral metal atoms gain electrons to become ions.(c) Neutral metal atoms lose electrons to become ions.(d) Metal ions gain electrons to become neutral metal atoms
Question
During purification of a metal by electrolysis, what happens at the negativeelectrode?(a) Metal ions lose electrons to become neutral atoms.(b) Neutral metal atoms gain electrons to become ions.(c) Neutral metal atoms lose electrons to become ions.(d) Metal ions gain electrons to become neutral metal atoms
Solution
The correct answer is (d) Metal ions gain electrons to become neutral metal atoms.
Here's the step by step explanation:
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In the process of electrolysis, an electric current is passed through a solution (electrolyte) causing a chemical reaction.
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The electrolyte is usually a salt solution of the metal being purified.
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The metal ions from the electrolyte are attracted to the negative electrode (cathode).
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When these metal ions reach the cathode, they gain electrons and are reduced to neutral metal atoms.
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This is how the metal is purified - the impurities remain in the solution while the pure metal is deposited on the cathode.
So, during the purification of a metal by electrolysis, at the negative electrode, metal ions gain electrons to become neutral metal atoms.
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