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Faraday's Law of Electrolysis & Electroplating Calculator

Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis state that the mass of substance altered at an electrode is directly proportional to electrical charge transferred.

Direct electrical current in Amperes.

Electrolysis run time in minutes.

Molar mass of deposited metal (Copper: 63.55, Nickel: 58.69, Silver: 107.87, Gold: 196.97 g/mol).

Electrons required per atom (Cu²⁺ = 2, Ag⁺ = 1, Au³⁺ = 3, Cr³⁺ = 3).

Calculated Result
5.927 g

Electrolytic Mass Deposited

Mass Deposited / Plated

5.9275 g

Total Charge Transferred

18,000.0 C

Electron Moles

0.1866 mol e⁻

Valence State

2+

Calculation Breakdown

  1. Faraday Charge Transfer LawQ = 5 A × 3600 s = 18,000.0 CoulombsQ=I⋅tQ = I \cdot t
  2. Faraday's Electrolytic Electroplating Depositionm = (18,000.0 × 63.546) / (2 × 96485) = 5.9275 gm=Q⋅Mz⋅F,F=96485 C/molm = \frac{Q \cdot M}{z \cdot F}, \quad F = 96485 \text{ C/mol}

Mass Plated vs Current for 1 Hour Cu²⁺ (M = 63.55 g/mol)

Interactive visualization based on your current inputs

Mass (g)
0.03.05.98.9121 A2.5 A5 A7.5 A10 ACurrent (A)Mass Deposited (g)

What Is the Faraday's Law of Electrolysis & Electroplating Calculator?

Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis were published by Michael Faraday in 1834, founding the science of quantitative electrochemistry.

How Does the Faraday's Law of Electrolysis & Electroplating Calculator Work?

Each metal ion requires a specific integer count of electrons (z) to reduce from solution onto the electrode surface.

Faraday's Law of Electrolysis & Electroplating Calculator Formula & Variables

The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:

m = \frac{I \cdot t \cdot M}{z \cdot F}, \quad F = 96485.33 \text{ C/mol}

Plated mass m is proportional to total charge Q = I·t and molar mass M, divided by ion valence z times Faraday constant F.

How to Use the Faraday's Law of Electrolysis & Electroplating Calculator

  1. Specify plating current in Amperes.
  2. Enter duration in minutes.
  3. Provide molar mass and ion valence.

Step-by-Step Example Calculation

Copper Electroplating Bath

Input Values:

current:5.0
timeMinutes:60
molarMass:63.546
valence:2
Worked Steps: Running 5 Amps for 60 minutes plating copper (Cu²⁺) passes 18000 Coulombs and deposits 5.93 grams of copper.

Understanding Your Result

Mass Deposited: Total plated layer mass in grams.

Total Charge: Electrical Coulombs transferred.

Factors That Affect the Result

  • Current magnitude, run time, and valence oxidation state.

When Should You Use This Calculator?

  • Industrial metal finishing, PCB copper electroplating, and chlor-alkali production.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Assumes 100% Faradaic cathode efficiency without competing water reduction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note

Standard Faraday constant F = 96485.33 C/mol.

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