What would be the order of the electrolytic cell in an industry intending the production of silver plated spoons?
- Cathode is the spoon; anode is a silver rod; electrolyte is a soluble silver salt
- Cathode is a silver rod; anode is the spoon; electrolyte is a soluble silver salt
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Cathode is the spoon; anode is any rod; electrolyte is a soluble silver salt
- Cathode is any rod; anode is the spoon; electrolyte is a soluble salt
The correct answer is: C
Explanation
In an electrolytic refining process, the anode is made of impure metal, and the cathode is made of a strip of pure metal. When an electric current is passed through the electrolyte, metal ions from the electrolyte are deposited as a pure metal on the cathode. A soluble silver salt is used as an electrolyte in the electrolysis of silver metal because it allows for the deposition of a pure metal on the cathode.
In the electrolysis of silver metal, any rod can be used at the anode because the anode bar gradually dissolves to replenish the silver ions in the solution. The net result is that silver metal has been transferred from the anode to the cathode.
In summary, any type of rod can be used at the anode, the spoon has to be cathode since we must obtain a pure silver spoon while the electrolyte must be a soluble silver salt because it allows easy deposition of metal ions as a pure metal on the cathode.
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