Electroplating sim
In both cells the anode is copper or impure copper, and Cu → Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ there; at the cathode Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu.
Electroplating · covers the GCSE, IGCSE, O-Level topic
What the sim shows
In both cells the anode is copper or impure copper, and Cu → Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ there; at the cathode Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu. Electroplating: the object to be plated is the cathode, the plating metal is the anode, and the electrolyte holds its ions, so copper simply moves from the anode onto the object and the blue stays. Purifying: zinc and iron in the impure anode dissolve too and stay in solution; silver and gold are not oxidised and fall as anode sludge, so the anode loses more mass than the cathode gains. Mass of copper = (current × time ÷ 96500) ÷ 2 × 64. The impure anode's make-up is this figure's example. The clock runs 60 times faster than real time.
- Positive terminal and anode
- Negative terminal and cathode
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