Abstract
The United States 5–cent coin commonly known as a "nickel" is made of an alloy containing 75% copper and 25% nickel. In this experiment, an electrolytic cell is set up using a 5-cent coin as the anode, a graphite post as the cathode, and a bath of 6 M hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte. Aqueous copper and nickel ions are produced at the anode, and pure copper metal is isolated at the cathode. The experiment is a visually appealing illustration of the process of electrorefining using selective reduction. The experiment requires a 6-V battery (or high-current power supply), appropriate patch cords, 6 M HCl, and a 250-mL beaker. Using a current of approximately 1 A, an easily measured quantity of pure copper can be collected in less than 30 minutes. If the current during the experiment is measured, a percent yield of copper (based on the number of electrons transferred) can be calculated.
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