[big]

In the electrolytic refining of copper, an electric current is passed through a cell containing a pure copper electrode, an electrode of impure copper, and an aqueous solution containing copper cations. As metallic copper is removed from the impure electroe and redeposited on the pure copper electrode other metallic impurities are left behind if the potential of the cell is adjusted properly. In this process, the impure copper electrode is called the
A) anode
B) cathode
C) reference electrode
D) indicating electrode

After narrowing it down to anode and indicating electrode, how do you determine which it is? I guess, essentially, my question is how do you tell in general if something is an indicating electrode or an anode?

[Borek]

What is indicating electrode? What function does it serve?

[big]

Indicating electrodes respond directly to changing activity of the electrode ion, right? How do you know if in the problem there is changing activity of the electrode ion?

[Borek]

What is the process - how does the copper get refined?

Do you use impure electrode to measure solution properties?

[big]

What is the process - how does the copper get refined?

Do you use impure electrode to measure solution properties?

According to what I just googled, "The electrolyte consists of an acidic solution of CuSO4. Application of a suitable voltage to the electrodes causes oxidation of copper metal at the anode and reduction of Cu2+ to form copper metal at the cathode. This strategy can be used because copper is both oxidized and reduced more readily than water."

and im not sure but is the answer to your second question no? Impure electrodes can't measure solution properties because they're impure?

[ardbeg]

the google quote gives you your answer...