Very amateur question

[tauyourking]

I know this is probably the dumbest question one could ask, but I couldn't seem to find a answer. In electrolysis, with two copper electrodes, in magnesium sulfate desolved in water, what sticks to the cathode,and what makes the water blue-green. I need to know what to label the stuff.

[Ophiolite]

I can give you a long list of questions that are much dumber than that. However, this sounds very much like a homework question. We have a forum rule that we don't do homework for you, but we shall help you.

 

1. If the magnesium sulphate is dissolved in water, what ions will be present?

2. Which of these ions will be positive, which negative?

3. Is the cathode positive or negative?

4. Which will be attracted to it?

[tauyourking]

Dancing, it isn't homework, but those are some questions I can use to find out what it is.

[Ophiolite]

Excellent. If you need any other hints just ask. It would be nice if you posted your solution once you've worked it out.

[studiot]

 

3. Is the cathode positive or negative?

 

Be careful with this one, as many get it wrong since strictly the question is meaningless.

 

See this thread.

 

http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/86381-basics-of-batteries/?hl=anode#entry835998

Edited December 18, 2014 by studiot