What is the purpose of electro-refining of copper?

Question

rane · Answer

@timo86m

anonymous · Answer

sorry idk :(

doc.brown · Answer

Copper in ore is usually oxidized (has given an electron away).  Melting or dissolving the oxidized copper allows the copper to go off in search of electrons elsewhere.  In the case of electro-refining, a negatively charged plate.

doc.brown · Answer

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rane · Answer

thank you

primeralph · Answer

Actually, that's not the purpose, that's the process.

primeralph · Answer

Electro-refining of copper is used to remove impurities from copper because copper in its natural state isn't very pure.

primeralph · Answer

And of course, for delicate things such as cables and so on, the resistivity of the conductor (mostly copper) has to be controlled.

doc.brown · Answer

Right!  Left that part out.  I spent too long on the drawing.  Purpose, remove impurities.