In electrolytic refining, impure metals are dissolved in a suitable electrolyte, and then a direct current is passed through the electrolyte. This causes the impurities to migrate to the anode (positively charged electrode) while the pure metal is deposited at the cathode (negatively charged electrode), resulting in the purification of the metal.
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Electrolytic refining helps in obtaining pure metals by utilizing electrolysis to selectively deposit pure metal on the cathode while removing impurities from the anode. During the process, the impure metal is made the anode, and a pure metal sheet is used as the cathode in an electrolytic cell. Metal cations from the anode dissolve in the electrolyte and are then reduced and deposited onto the cathode, forming a layer of pure metal. Simultaneously, impurities are left behind at the anode or fall into the electrolyte. This iterative process results in the purification of the metal, yielding a high-purity product suitable for various applications.