Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lance A. Schell
Park Hill South High School
Block One Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Abstract
In this experiment, the purpose was to prepare several different half-cells using zinc as
the standard electrode, connect them to find the voltages they generated, and construct a table of
relative electrode potentials. This was done by predicting the electrode potentials as well as
actually measuring the various electrode potentials using a voltmeter and a 24-well plate.
In the results of the experiment, the electrodes followed the general rule of thumb in that
the more negative an electrode potential was, the more it favored the reverse reaction and was
thus the cathode, while the more positive an electrode potential was, the more it favored the
forward reaction and was thus the anode. In the first part of the experiment, zinc was the anode
in all five cases (silver, copper, iron, magnesium, and lead), and resulted in four positive
potentials and one negative potential – 1.32 V, 0.94 V, 0.43 V, -0.65 V, and 0.40, listed with
respect to order of cells performed (indicated above). In the second part of the experiment where
the cells were chosen from a pool of varying combinations, the same general rule of thumb held
true. The only difference that was noticed between the two sections was the differing potential
of the zinc and iron cell, which was 0.43 V in the first and 1.18 V in the second, and the differing
potential of the zinc and lead cell, which was 0.40 V in the first and 0.36 V in the second. The
zinc and lead cell remains close enough for a negligible difference, while the differing potentials
of the two measures of the zinc and iron cell could be due to the time at which the readings were
read (in reference to the time the salt bridge had been connecting the two electrodes before the
voltmeter was connected, as the voltage was read immediately upon connection).
Introduction
electrochemical, meaning part of a science that deals with the relation of electricity to chemical
changes and with the interconversion of chemical and electrical energy1, and cell, meaning a
receptacle containing electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical
action or for use in electrolysis.2 The cell itself is usually always in the same solution, but not
always the same container. A cell such as a Duracell® battery exists in one cell with a separator
to separate the anode and cathode ends, while a cell such as a camping battery exists in the same
solution in two different containers with a salt bridge connecting both containers of solution.
Aside from the use and application in batteries, the electrochemical cells and the concept behind
them allow scientists to conduct tests to prepare conditions and constants for lab experiments,
such as testing various work surfaces for static electric charges [which in certain experiments can
be detrimental to the test subject(s)], evidenced in a document published with the World
The first coinage of the term “electrochemical cell” or “voltaic cell” was around 1771,
when Luigi Galvani observed a twitching of a frog as the frog was dissected, leading him to the
conclusion that “animal electricity” remained in the frog, even after death.4 While scientifically
incorrect, the concept has brought about the concept of electrochemical cells through the years.
It was not for twenty more years (around 1791) before a scientist by the name of Alessandro
Volta made the conclusion that the spasms were a result of two pieces of metal connecting via
the bloodstream of the frog (a cell utilizing blood as the solution).5 There are many types and
variants of electrochemical cells in the world today, and usually refer to the standard electrode
potential (Eº) which is where hydrogen is used as the anode and compared against (the hydrogen
standard potential in that case is 0.00 V). Other standard electrodes may be used, with varying
results, such as platinum or zinc. Zinc was first used around the time John Frederick Daniell
developed a voltaic cell in 1836, where zinc was used as the anode and copper as the cathode.6
The hence referred to “Daniell Cell” held the two electrodes in the same container and solution,
separated by a porous barrier that was small enough to allow transmittance of SO42- ions to flow
from one side to the other, but blocked the passage of the Zn2+ and Cu2+ ions.6 Without the
movement of the sulfate ion, there would be no external electric current generated.
Electrochemical cells have since played a role and continue to play a big role in an abundance of
The SI unit for measuring electrode potential remains the same (the volt) which is equal
to one joule per coulomb. The concept to remember is that the oxidation is the driving force
which produces a finite amount of energy. After the cell has been allowed to run, the potential
constantly decreases and when the potential eventually reaches zero, the cell itself is in
equilibrium. Without a salt bridge in a cell with electrodes in two separate containers, the
potential will also show zero, meaning there is no potential as there is no flow of ions (the salt
bridge maintains this flow as well as the charge of each side of the cell).
Experimental
The experiment was taken from a handout published by Flinn Scientific.7 Modifications
to the procedure included not performing parts three through five (only parts one and two), and
To reiterate the concept of electrochemical cells, the standard potential (generally when
dealing with hydrogen) may be found using the equation:𝐸°𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑙 = 𝐸𝐶𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑒 + 𝐸𝐴𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 . This
allows us to calculate an estimated potential based off of a standard reduction potentials table
(included in tables). This equation is used to find the estimated potentials of each of the cells in
𝑬°𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒍 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟕 𝑽 − 𝟎. 𝟕𝟔 𝑽
𝑬°𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒍 = + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑽
The other main calculation this experiment involves subtracting the standard zinc
potential from the standard potential for the respective cell, per the equation below. Again, an
𝐸° − 𝐸𝑍𝑛
𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑽 − 𝟎. 𝟒𝟑 𝑽
− 𝟎. 𝟒𝟐 𝑽
Conclusion
In conclusion, several different half-cells were prepared and connected together, and a
table of relative electrode potentials was constructed based on the information. The general rule
of thumb held true in this experiment in that the more negative the potential was, the more it
favored the reverse reaction and was thus the cathode. The more positive the potential was, the
more the electrode favored the forward reaction and was thus the anode. The only error reported
was the differing measurements of the zinc and iron cell in parts one and two. There was no
1.32
1
0.94
0.5
0.43 0.4
0
Zn Vs. Ag Zn Vs. Cu Zn Vs. Fe Zn Vs. Mg Zn Vs. Pb
-0.5 -0.65
-1
2.00
1.94
1.50 1.60
1.00 1.18
0.50
0.51
0.25 0.36
0.00
Fe Vs. Zn Cu Vs. Mg Fe Vs. Cu Pb Vs. Cu Ag Vs. Mg Pb Vs. Zn
Reduction Equations
Reduction Equation Electrode Potentials (EZn) Accepted Potentials* 𝑬𝒁𝒏 − 𝑬°
Ag+ + e- Ag(s) 1.32 V 0.80 V 0.52 V
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu(s) 0.94 V 0.34 V 0.60 V
Fe3+ + e- Fe2+ 0.43 V 0.77 V - 0.34 V
Mg2+ + 2e- Mg(s) - 0.65 V - 2.37 V 1.72 V
Pb2+ + 2e- Pg(s) 0.40 V - 0.13 V 0.53 V
* Note: Predicted values are based off of standard hydrogen electrode values
References
- Merriam-Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrochemical
- Merriam-Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cell
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=2002025249
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/chemical/electrochem.html