Electrolysis Calculator

Faraday's law gives the mass deposited or dissolved during electrolysis.

How the Math Works

This calculator applies Faraday's law of electrolysis, which connects electrical current to chemical deposition. The formula mass = (I · t · M) ÷ (n · 96,485) multiplies current (I in amperes) by time (t in seconds) to find total charge, then scales by the molar mass (M in g/mol) and divides by the valence number (n) and Faraday's constant (96,485 C/mol). Faraday's constant represents the charge of one mole of electrons, making this a direct conversion from electrical energy to mass deposited.

Practical Applications

To use this calculator, first determine the current flowing through your electrolysis setup in amperes and the duration in seconds. Look up the molar mass of the substance you're electrolyzing (e.g., copper = 63.55 g/mol) and identify how many electrons are required per ion (Cu²+ requires n=2). Input these values into the formula or calculator fields to instantly determine the expected mass deposited, helping you verify reaction efficiency or plan electroplating jobs with precise material quantities.

Day-to-Day Use

This calculation helps you understand and optimize everyday electrochemistry applications. When electroplating jewelry at home, it predicts how long to run your bath for a desired coating thickness. Industrial workers use it to estimate raw material needs for large-scale metal finishing processes. Even in science demonstrations, it explains why certain metals visibly deposit during electrolysis experiments, making abstract chemistry concepts tangible and predictable in real-world scenarios.

Worked example

Copper (M 63.55, n 2), 2 A for 1 h → ~2.37 g.

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