The Year 11 chemistry students and teachers toured Copper Refineries Pty Ltd (CRL) on Wednesday, as part of their electrochemistry studies.

The Head of Faculty-Science at Townsville Grammar School, Bianca Battoraro, said it was a privilege for students to have the opportunity to gain real world exposure to the electrorefining process.

"We're very lucky to have a significant industrial operation on our doorstep allowing students to experience an authentic working environment. This gives them a complete educational experience where they can ask questions and interact with metallurgists," Bianca said.

Visiting the refinery, students were allowed a glimpse into industrial scale electrorefining of copper.

At the refinery, the students saw each step in the process of converting impure copper anode from the Mount Isa smelter into 99.995 per cent premium copper cathode, which is the last step in the copper production process.

From the refinery it is transported to customers' production facilities where it is used in a wide range of products including electrical wiring, electronic goods like TVs, mobile phones and laptops, air conditioners, home heating systems, solar panels, wind turbines, medical equipment and Electric Vehicle batteries.

The students also got to check out the company's new robotic handling and welding technology in action.

Copper refinery manager Paul Taylor said it was one of the world's leading electrolytic refineries and were pleased to involve schools and share those educational experiences outside the classroom.

"It's great that we can give students exposure to our processes on site so they have the opportunity to get a feel for what it's like to work in operational areas of the resources sector," he said.

"These experiences can open their eyes to the variety of career pathways available in our industry, something they may never have considered might now be something they want to pursue."