Faraday's law of electrolysis states that metal deposited on the cathode is directly proportional to what?

Faraday's law of electrolysis indicates that the mass of a substance deposited at the cathode during electrolysis is directly proportional to the quantity of electric charge that has passed through the electrolyte. This relationship demonstrates that as more electrical charge is applied, more metal ions are reduced and deposited at the cathode.

This principle is fundamental in electrochemistry, providing a quantitative basis for predicting the amount of metal that can be deposited or dissolved during electrochemical reactions. The law can be expressed mathematically, where the quantity of substance deposited is equal to the electrochemical equivalent of the substance multiplied by the total charge, which reinforces the direct proportionality to the charge.

Understanding this connection is crucial for applications in cathodic protection and electroplating, where controlling the amount of charge is essential for achieving the desired results in the process.