A current of 45 A is passed through a solution of gold salt for 1 hour 45 minutes. Calculate

a. The mass of gold deposited
b. The number of mole of gold deposited
c. If the same current is used, find the time taken for 5.5g of gold
(Au = 193, 1 Faraday = 96500 C)

1 answer

To solve the problem, we will use Faraday's laws of electrolysis.

Given:

  • Current (I) = 45 A
  • Time (t) = 1 hour 45 minutes = 105 minutes = \( 105 \times 60 \) seconds = 6300 seconds
  • Atomic mass of gold (Au) = 193 g/mol
  • Faraday's constant (F) = 96500 C

a. The mass of gold deposited

First, we'll calculate the total charge (Q) that has passed through the cell using the formula: \[ Q = I \times t \] Substituting the values: \[ Q = 45 , \text{A} \times 6300 , \text{s} = 283500 , \text{C} \]

Next, we need to determine the number of moles of electrons (n) used to deposit the gold. Since the reduction of gold ions (Au\(^3+\)) to gold (Au) requires 3 moles of electrons per mole of gold: \[ n = \frac{Q}{F} = \frac{283500 , \text{C}}{96500 , \text{C/mol}} \approx 2.94 , \text{mol of electrons} \] To find the moles of gold deposited: \[ \text{Moles of Au} = \frac{n}{3} = \frac{2.94}{3} \approx 0.98 , \text{mol} \]

Finally, we can calculate the mass of gold (m) deposited using the formula: \[ m = \text{moles} \times \text{molar mass} = 0.98 , \text{mol} \times 193 , \text{g/mol} \approx 189.34 , \text{g} \]

b. The number of moles of gold deposited

As calculated above, the moles of gold deposited is: \[ \text{Moles of Au} \approx 0.98 , \text{mol} \]

c. Time taken for 5.5 g of gold

Now we want to calculate the time taken to deposit 5.5 g of gold. First, we find the number of moles of gold from 5.5 g: \[ \text{Moles of Au} = \frac{5.5 , \text{g}}{193 , \text{g/mol}} \approx 0.0285 , \text{mol} \] For this amount of gold, the number of moles of electrons required is: \[ n = 3 \times \text{Moles of Au} = 3 \times 0.0285 \approx 0.0855 , \text{mol} \]

Next, we calculate the total charge required to deposit this amount of gold: \[ Q = n \times F = 0.0855 , \text{mol} \times 96500 , \text{C/mol} \approx 8258 , \text{C} \]

Now we can use the current to find the time required: \[ t = \frac{Q}{I} = \frac{8258 , \text{C}}{45 , \text{A}} \approx 183.51 , \text{s} \approx 3.06 , \text{minutes} \]

Final Answers:

a. The mass of gold deposited = 189.34 g
b. The number of moles of gold deposited = 0.98 mol
c. Time taken for 5.5 g of gold = 3.06 minutes