Q.What is the mass of Cu metal produced at the cathode during the passage of 5 ampere current through CuSO4 solution for 100 minutes. Molar mass of Cu is 63.5 g mol−1.
Concept understanding — Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis
Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis – From Intuition to Precision
Imagine you are plating a spoon with silver. You dip it in a silver salt solution, connect it to a battery, and silver metal starts coating the spoon. Two questions naturally arise: How much silver will deposit? And does the amount depend only on the battery's strength, or also on the time?
Faraday answered both with two beautifully simple laws.
The Core Intuition
Electrolysis is about moving electrons. Each silver ion (Ag+) arriving at the spoon grabs one electron and becomes a neutral silver atom. So the mass of silver deposited is directly proportional to the number of electrons that have flowed — that is, to the total charge passed.
But different ions need different numbers of electrons. A copper ion (Cu2+) needs two electrons to become copper metal. So for the same charge, you get half as many copper atoms as silver atoms. That is why the chemical nature of the substance matters — specifically, its equivalent weight (the mass that reacts with one mole of electrons).
The Two Laws – Precise Statements
First Law: The mass of a substance liberated at an electrode is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity passed through the electrolyte.
m∝Qorm=ZQ
where Z is the electrochemical equivalent (mass deposited per unit charge).
Second Law: When the same quantity of electricity is passed through different electrolytes, the masses of substances liberated are proportional to their chemical equivalents (equivalent weights).
E1m1=E2m2
where E is the equivalent weight (molar mass ÷ valency).
Putting Them Together – The Combined Equation
The two laws merge into one powerful formula:
m=FQ×E
where:
- m = mass deposited (g)
- Q = total charge passed (coulombs) = I×t
- E = equivalent weight (g/eq)
- F = Faraday's constant = 96485 C/mol (charge of one mole of electrons)
A quick way to remember: m=FItE. The charge It is just current × time.
Worked Example – Silver Plating
Problem: A current of 2.0 A is passed through a silver nitrate solution for 30 minutes. How much silver deposits? (Atomic mass of Ag = 107.9 g/mol, valency = 1)
Step 1 – Find the charge:
Q=I×t=2.0×(30×60)=3600 C
Step 2 – Find equivalent weight:
E=1107.9=107.9 g/eq
Step 3 – Apply the combined law:
m=FQ×E=964853600×107.9≈4.03 g
A common mistake: forgetting to convert minutes to seconds. Time must always be in seconds when using Q=It.
Why This Matters for Exams
Faraday's laws are the foundation of:
- Electroplating (calculating coating thickness)
- Electrorefining (purifying metals)
- Battery chemistry (predicting how long a cell lasts)
- Stoichiometry of redox reactions (linking moles of electrons to moles of substance)
The key takeaway: mass deposited depends only on charge passed and the substance's equivalent weight — not on voltage, electrode size, or temperature (within reason).
Faraday's constant F=96485 C/mol is a universal constant. Memorise it — it appears in nearly every electrolysis problem.
'Faraday's laws of electrolysis formula', 'Faraday's first and second law class 12 chemistry', and 'Faraday's laws numericals important questions' are among the most searched phrases for this topic, which is a core part of the NCERT-aligned CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Electrochemistry syllabus. Calculating mass deposited from current, time and equivalent weight is one of the highest-frequency numerical question types in JEE Main, NEET and state CETs.
Cu2+ + 2e− → Cu needs 2 moles of electrons per mole of Cu; the charge passed is I×t = 5 × 6000 s = 30000 C.
W=965005×100×60×21×63.5=9.87 g -- digit-for-digit the textbook's printed final.
Moles of electrons = 30000/96500 = 0.3109; moles of Cu = half of that; mass = 0.1554 × 63.5 = 9.87 g.
Step 1 (stoichiometry). Cu2+ (aq)+2e−→Cu (s), so the mole ratio is 2 mol e−1 mol Cu.
Step 2 (charge passed). Q=I×t=5 A×100×60 s=30000 C.
Step 3 (mass formed). W=96500It×mole ratio×molar mass=9650030000×21×63.5 g.
Step 4. W=0.3109×0.5×63.5=9.87 g.
Mass of Cu deposited = 9.87 g -- digit-for-digit the textbook's printed final.
Convert current x time to moles of electrons (divide by 96500), apply the 1 mol Cu per 2 mol e- ratio, then multiply by the molar mass of Cu.
- Leaving the time in minutes: 100 minutes must become 6000 seconds before Q = It.
- Forgetting the 1/2 mole ratio -- Cu2+ needs TWO electrons per atom, which halves the mass.
- Using 96500 as coulombs per mole of COPPER instead of per mole of electrons.
Showing the 12 most recent of 21 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.Which of the following equations represents the Faraday's first law of electrolysis ?(a) mz = c.t(b) m = c.z.t(c) mc = z.t(d) c = m.z.t
›Reveal solutionSolution
Faraday's first law: mass deposited m is proportional to the quantity of charge, m = z x Q = z x c x t (c = current, t = time, z = electrochemical equivalent).
Faraday's first law of electrolysis states that the mass of a substance deposited or liberated at an electrode is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity passed, Q = I x t. Writing current as c:
m = z x Q = z x c x t, i.e. m = c.z.t.
✓Final answer(b) m = c.z.t.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Assertion (A) : Reduction of 1 mole of Cu2+ ions requires 2 Faraday of charge. Reason (R) : 1 Faraday is equal to the charge of 1 mole of electrons.(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu needs 2 moles of electrons, i.e. 2 Faraday of charge, and 1 Faraday is defined as the charge carried by 1 mole of electrons — so the reason directly explains the assertion.
Assertion: Reduction of 1 mole of Cu²⁺ requires 2 Faraday of charge.
The reduction half-reaction is:
Cu2+(aq)+2e−→Cu(s)
To reduce 1 mole of Cu²⁺ ions, 2 moles of electrons are needed. Since 1 Faraday (F) is exactly the amount of charge carried by 1 mole of electrons (F = N_A × e ≈ 96500 C/mol), 2 moles of electrons corresponds to 2 Faraday of charge. So the assertion is true.
Reason: 1 Faraday equals the charge of 1 mole of electrons — this is simply the definition of the Faraday constant, so it is true.
Since the reason (the definition of Faraday's constant, and the stoichiometric need for 2 mol e⁻ per mol Cu²⁺) is exactly why 2 F of charge is required, R correctly explains A.
✓Final answer(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The charge required to reduce 1 mol of MnO₄⁻ to MnO₂ is-(a)(i) 1F(b)(ii) 3F(c)(iii) 5F(d)(iv) 6F
›Reveal solutionSolution
Mn goes from +7 (in MnO4−) to +4 (in MnO2), a gain of 3 electrons per Mn; 1 mole requires 3 F. Correct option: (ii).
Concept. By Faraday's laws, the charge needed to reduce 1 mole of a species equals (number of electrons gained per ion) × 1 F, where 1 F=96500 C is the charge of 1 mole of electrons.
Steps.
-
Oxidation state of Mn in MnO4−: x+4(−2)=−1⇒x=+7.
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Oxidation state of Mn in MnO2: x+2(−2)=0⇒x=+4.
-
Change =+7→+4, so each Mn gains 7−4=3 electrons.
-
Half-reaction: MnO4−+4H++3e−→MnO2+2H2O.
-
Charge for 1 mol =3×1 F=3 F.
✓Final answer(ii) 3F — three moles of electrons (3 faraday) are needed to reduce one mole of MnO4− to MnO2.
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- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.How much charge is required for the 1 mol Al3+ to Al?(a) 1F(b) 2F(c) 4F(d) 3F
›Reveal solutionSolution
Al3+ + 3e- -> Al, so 1 mol Al needs 3 mol electrons = 3F.
The reduction half-reaction is: Al3+ + 3e- -> Al.
To deposit 1 mole of aluminium, 3 moles of electrons are required. One mole of electrons carries a charge of 1 faraday (96500 C). Hence the charge needed = 3 F.
✓Final answer(d) 3F.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If 96500 coulomb of electricity is passed through CuSO4 solution, it will liberate-(a) 63.5 gm copper(b) 100 gm copper(c) 96500 gm copper(d) None of the these
›Reveal solutionSolution
96500 C = 1 Faraday = 1 mole of electrons, but Cu2+ needs 2 electrons per atom, so only half a mole (31.75 g) of copper is deposited.
At the cathode: Cu2++2e−→Cu.
96500 C=1 F=1 mole of electrons. Since 2 moles of electrons are needed to deposit 1 mole (63.5 g) of copper, 1 mole of electrons (96500 C) deposits only:
263.5=31.75 g of copper.
This value (31.75 g) is not among options (a),
(b),
(c), so the correct choice is 'None of these'.
✓Final answer(d) None of these
- CBSE 2025Set D1 markMCQQ.The quantity of electricity required to liberate 32 g of oxygen is(a) 1 faraday(b) 2 faraday(c) 3 faraday(d) 4 faraday
›Reveal solutionSolution
32 g O2 = 1 mol; the electrode reaction transfers 4 electrons per O2, so 4 faraday are needed.
32 g of oxygen (O2, molar mass 32 g/mol) is 1 mole of O2 molecules.
At the anode, oxygen is liberated by:
2H2O → O2 + 4H+ + 4e- (or 4OH- → O2 + 2H2O + 4e-)
So the release of 1 mole of O2 requires 4 moles of electrons. Since 1 mole of electrons = 1 faraday, the quantity of electricity required = 4 faraday.
✓Final answer(D) 4 faraday are required to liberate 32 g of oxygen.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The number of electrons with one coulomb of charge will be:(a) 6.29 x 10^11(b) 1.6 x 10^19(c) 6.24 x 10^18(d) 5.46 x 10^29
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since the charge on one electron is 1.6 × 10^-19 C, the number of electrons carrying 1 C of charge is 1 / (1.6 × 10^-19) ≈ 6.24 × 10^18.
The charge on a single electron is e = 1.6 × 10^-19 coulomb (this value itself is option b, which is a distractor — it is the charge of ONE electron, not the count of electrons).
To find how many electrons (n) are needed to make up a total charge of 1 C:
n = Total charge / charge per electron = 1 / (1.6 × 10^-19) = 6.25 × 10^18, which rounds to the listed 6.24 × 10^18.
(This number is closely related to the Faraday constant: F = NA × e = 6.022 × 10^23 × 1.6 × 10^-19 ≈ 96500 C per mole of electrons, so per coulomb there are NA/96500 ≈ 6.24 × 10^18 electrons.)
✓Final answer(c) 6.24 x 10^18 electrons.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The amount of electricity required to deposit 1 mol of aluminium from a solution of AlCl3 will be(a) 0.33 faraday(b) 1 faraday(c) 3 faraday(d) 1 ampere
›Reveal solutionSolution
Aluminium exists as Al3+ in AlCl3, so depositing one mole of Al at the cathode needs 3 moles of electrons, i.e. 3 faradays.
Reasoning
The cathodic reduction half-reaction is:
Al3++3e−→Al
By Faraday's first law, the quantity of electricity needed to deposit 1 mole of a substance equals (number of electrons transferred per ion) ×F, where F=96500 C mol−1.
Here n=3, so the charge required is:
Q=nF=3F
Why the other options are wrong: (a) 0.33 F would deposit only 1/9 mol of Al; (b) 1 F would deposit only 1/3 mol of Al (or 1 mol of a monovalent metal like Na+); (d) 1 ampere is a unit of current, not a quantity of electricity (charge), so it is not even dimensionally comparable.
✓Final answer(c) 3 faraday
- CBSE 2024Set D1 markMCQQ.A charge of 96500 coulomb liberates .............. from the solution of CuSO4.(a) 63.5 gm copper(b) 31.76 gm copper(c) 96500 gm copper(d) 100 gm copper
›Reveal solutionSolution
96500 C = 1 faraday = 1 mole of electrons. Depositing Cu requires 2 electrons per Cu atom, so 1 F deposits 63.5/2 = 31.76 g Cu.
Electrode reaction: Cu2+ + 2e- -> Cu.
To deposit 1 mole of copper (63.5 g) you need 2 moles of electrons = 2 x 96500 C = 193000 C.
Therefore the charge passed here, 96500 C (1 faraday, i.e. 1 mole of electrons), deposits half a mole of copper:
mass = 63.5 / 2 = 31.76 g.
(This is Faraday's law: equivalent mass of Cu = atomic mass / valency = 63.5/2 = 31.76 g is deposited per faraday.)
✓Final answer(B) 31.76 gm copper.
- CBSE 2024Set B1 markQ.Fill in the blank: One Faraday electricity equals to ______ coulomb.
›Reveal solutionSolution
1 Faraday = charge carried by one mole of electrons = 96,500 C (more precisely 96,487 C, usually rounded to 96,500 C).
One Faraday (F) is defined as the quantity of electric charge carried by one mole (Avogadro's number, 6.022x10^23) of electrons:
1F=NA×e=6.022×1023×1.602×10−19 C≈96,500 C mol−1
This constant is used in Faraday's laws of electrolysis to relate the charge passed through an electrolytic cell to the amount of substance deposited/liberated at an electrode.
✓Final answer96,500 coulomb.
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.State Faraday's first law of Electrolysis.
›Reveal solutionSolution
More charge passed through an electrolytic cell means proportionally more substance deposited at the electrode.
Faraday's first law of electrolysis states: the mass (w) of a substance produced (deposited or liberated) at an electrode during electrolysis is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity (charge, Q) that passes through the electrolyte.
w ∝ Q
Since charge Q = current (I) × time (t), this can be written:
w = Z × I × t
where Z is a constant called the electrochemical equivalent of the substance — the mass deposited per unit charge (per coulomb) passed.
✓Final answerFaraday's first law: w ∝ Q, i.e. the mass of substance deposited at an electrode is directly proportional to the quantity of charge passed (w = ZIt, Z = electrochemical equivalent).
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markQ.A solution of MgSO4 is electrolysed to carry out a deposition of 24.3 g of magnesium at cathode. How many electrons pass through the solution during the process ?
›Reveal solutionSolution
Depositing 1 mole of Mg²⁺ needs 2 moles of electrons (per Faraday's law), i.e. 2NA electrons.
Magnesium is deposited at the cathode by the two-electron reduction:
Mg2++2e−→Mg(s)
Moles of Mg deposited =24.3 g/mol24.3 g=1 mol
Since each mole of Mg requires 2 moles of electrons:
moles of electrons=1×2=2 mol
Number of electrons =2×NA=2×6.022×1023=1.2044×1024 electrons.
✓Final answer1.2044×1024 electrons (2 mol e⁻) pass through the solution.
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