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Chemistry · L4 · Electrolytic Refining of Copper: Anode Mud vs Dissolved Impurities

What happens to each kind of impurity in impure copper during electrorefining — precious metals fall away as valuable anode mud, while more reactive metals dissolve but never redeposit.

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Impure (blister) copper anode +pure copper cathode, in CuSO4 solutionCurrent passes:Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- at the anodeWhat kind ofimpurity is it?Does not oxidise —falls away as anode mudCu2+ ionsenter solutionOxidises and dissolvesinto the electrolyteValuable byproduct —reprocessed for gold and silverCu2+ + 2e- → Cu at thecathode: pure copper depositsStays dissolved in theelectrolyte — never depositedLess reactive than Cu (e.g. gold, silver)Copper itselfMore reactive than Cu (e.g. zinc, iron)

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