Electrolysis Calculator
Calculate mass deposited or gas produced in electrolysis using Faraday's laws. Find grams of product from current, time, and number of electrons per mole of product.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Symbol | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolysis Calculator | See formula | m = (I·t·M) / (n·F) | g |
Step-by-Step Examples
Plate copper (n=2, M=63.55) with 2.00 A for 1 hour (3600 s).
- Q = I*t = 2.00 x 3600 = 7200 C
- mol Cu = 7200/(2 x 96485) = 0.03731 mol
- mass = 0.03731 x 63.55 = 2.370 g
Plate Ag (n=1, M=107.87) with 0.500 A for 30 min (1800 s).
- mol Ag = (0.500 x 1800)/(1 x 96485) = 0.009327 mol
- mass = 0.009327 x 107.87 = 1.006 g
H2O electrolysis: produce H2 (n=2, M=2.016) with 5.00 A for 10 min (600 s).
- mol H2 = (5.00 x 600)/(2 x 96485) = 0.01554 mol
- mass H2 = 0.01554 x 2.016 = 0.0313 g
- Volume at STP = 0.01554 x 22.4 = 0.348 L
Real-World Applications
Common Mistakes to Avoid
For Cu^2+: n=2. For Al^3+: n=3. For Ag+: n=1. For Cl2: n=2 (2Cl^- to Cl2 requires 2 electrons).
I (amperes) x t (seconds) = Q (coulombs). Convert minutes or hours to seconds.
F = charge of one mole of electrons = 96,485 C/mol electrons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Chemistry Calculators
Formula Explorer connections
Interpretation: This formula links electron transfer, charge, potential, current or ionic transport in an electrochemical system. Assumption: Balance electron count and half-reactions, preserve sign conventions, and use consistent concentration, temperature and electrical units. Real cells include losses and overpotential.