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Electrolysis CuSO4

In the electrolysis of CuSO4, why is the equation:
2CuSO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l) → 2Cu (s) + 2H2SO4 (aq) + O2 (g)

Shouldn't the coefficient of CuSO4, andCu, be 1?
Reply 1
Avatar for zef1995
zef1995
10
Original post by Aaradhana
x


No - on the right side of the equation there are 2 H2SO4, so if the coefficient of CuSO4 was 1, there would be 1 SO4 on the left hand side and 2 SO4 on the right, so it wouldn't balance. Therefore, the coefficient of CuSO4 must be 2.
And if the coefficient of CuSO4 is 2, that gives 2 Cu on the left hand side. So the coefficient of Cu on the right hand side must also be 2 to balance the equation.

I hope that helps!
Reply 2
Avatar for Aaradhana
Aaradhana
OP
Original post by zef1995
No - on the right side of the equation there are 2 H2SO4, so if the coefficient of CuSO4 was 1, there would be 1 SO4 on the left hand side and 2 SO4 on the right, so it wouldn't balance. Therefore, the coefficient of CuSO4 must be 2.
And if the coefficient of CuSO4 is 2, that gives 2 Cu on the left hand side. So the coefficient of Cu on the right hand side must also be 2 to balance the equation.

I hope that helps!


Oh yea, thanks!
Reply 3
Avatar for Borek
Borek
4
Actually the problem is with the oxygen - if you start with 1 molecule of the copper sulfate, you end with half molecule of O2. By convention correctly balanced equations contains the smallest possible integer coefficients, so you have to multiply everything by two.
Reply 4
Avatar for zed963
zed963
16
Copper ion turns into copper

Cu2^+. + 2e ---> Cu


Posted from TSR Mobile

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