Electrolysis Mass Calculator – How It Works

This tool estimates the mass of material deposited during electrolysis by using the current, duration, and the chemical properties of the substance. Electrolysis is a method where electrical energy forces a non-spontaneous reaction to occur, commonly used for metal extraction and electroplating.

How to Use the Calculator

Choose a substance from the list or enter your own by providing its molar mass and valency.
Enter the current (I) in amperes and the time (t) in seconds.
Press the “Calculate Mass” button.
The calculator will display the deposited mass along with a step-by-step breakdown of the calculation.

Substances Included

Substance	Molar Mass (g/mol)	Valency
Copper (Cu)	63.55	2
Zinc (Zn)	65.38	2
Silver (Ag)	107.87	1
Lead (Pb)	207.2	2
Gold (Au)	196.97	3

Formula Used for Calculation

The mass deposited in electrolysis can be determined using Faraday’s Law:

Faraday’s Law

m = (Q × M) / (n × F)

Where:

m = mass deposited (grams)
Q = total charge passed (Coulombs), calculated as Q = I × t
M = molar mass of the substance (g/mol)
n = valency (electrons required per ion)
F = Faraday constant (96485 C/mol)

Calculation Process

Step 1: Compute the charge: Q = I × t
Step 2: Apply Faraday’s law to find mass: m = (Q × M) / (n × F)

FAQs

1. What is electrolysis?

Electrolysis is a process that uses electrical current to drive chemical reactions that would not occur naturally. It is widely used in metal refining, electroplating, and gas production.

2. How do current and time affect the deposited mass?

The mass deposited depends on the total electrical charge passed through the solution. Since charge equals current multiplied by time (Q = I × t), increasing either current or time increases the mass deposited.

3. Why does valency matter?

Valency indicates how many electrons are needed to deposit one mole of the substance. A higher valency means more charge is required to deposit the same amount of material.

4. Can this calculator be used for all electrolysis reactions?

This calculator is mainly meant for metal deposition reactions where valency and molar mass are known. It may not apply directly to complex or non-metal electrolysis reactions.

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