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OBJECTIVE:
To make an experimental measurement of Avogadros number using an electrochemical technique
(electrogravimetry).
INTRODUCTION:
The most commonly used basic counting unit chemistry field is Avogadros number which was found
by an Italian scientist, Amadeo Avogadro (Vernier Software & Technology, 2013). The definition of
13
Avogadros number is the number of atoms in exactly 12 g of the isotope C and the quantity itself is
23
6.02214199 10 .
In this experiment, the Avogadros number was confirmed by conducting an electrochemical process
called electrolysis. This process used an external power supply to drive and non spontaneous
reaction. A careful measurement of electron flow, amperage, and time to obtain the number of
electrons passing through the electrochemical cell will be done in the experiment. The electron flow,
in amperes, is usually referred to as the current. the Avogadros number can be calculated through
the number of atoms in a weighed sample which are related to the number of electrons used.
There are several ways to determine the Avogadros number which in this experiment, the
electrogravimetric technique was applied. The experimental setup for this process is called an
electrolytic cell. An electrolytic cell is made up of these following components:
The electrolytic process was used to determine the number of electron needed to convert one mole of
2+
copper atoms to one mole of copper ions Cu . This value was divided by to and it represents the
number of atoms converted from copper metal to copper ions:
2+
Cu Cu
2e
The above reaction is half equation that represents oxidation. The number of copper atoms per mole
of copper is Avogadros number, the value to be determined. To find out the number of electron
consumed in this process is determined by using the charge of an electron and the total charge
measured. By using the Millikan oil-drop experiment, the charge of an electron was determined to be
-19
1.60217733 x 10 coulombs per electron.
By applying the relationship: 1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second, the number of coulombs used in this
experiment can be calculated. An ammeter was used in the experiment to measure the amperage
and a stopwatch was used to measure the time passed. The mass of copper that reacted can be
obtained by measuring the mass of the anode and he cathode before and after the electrolysis.
In the electrolytic cell contains both copper electrodes and the electrolyte 1M CuSO4 + 0.5M H2SO4.
The copper electrode (anode) connected to the positive pin loses mass as the copper atoms are
converted into copper ions as shown in the equation earlier. the loss of mass is visible after a while as
2+
pitting of the surface of the metal electrode. In addition, the copper ions, Cu , produced immediately
pass into water solution and deposit on the cathode as the reaction shown below:
2+
Cu
2 e Cu (solid)
APPARATUS: 20V power supply, U-tube, copper electrodes, electrical wires with crocodile clips,
retort stand with clamps, emery paper and 4-decimal analytical balance.
CHEMICALS: 1M CuSO4 and 0.5M H2SO4
PROCEDURE:
1. Two copper electrodes were obtained, polished and cleaned before any measurement was
taken. The electrodes were dipped in a beaker of clean tap water and then they were dipped
in a beaker of alcohol. a sticker was put to the electrode after the electrode was dried. The
electrodes were weight carefully and less weight electrode was labelled as anode. The
electrolytic solution used was 1M CuSO4 in a 250mL beaker.
2. Based on Figure 1 shown, the circuit was set up by setting the power supply at 20. The
positive pole of the power supply was connected to the anode of the first cell. The cathode
was connected to the positive pin of the ammeter. The amperage was recorded at 30
seconds intervals for 10 minutes. The average amperage was taken to be used in the
calculation.
3. When electrolysis had stopped, the anode and cathode were retrieved, rinsed gently and
dried with distilled water. Then, dried them with tissue paper and immersed in the alcohol. Do
not wipe the electrode since it will remove the copper from the surface. The anode and
cathode were weighted.
4. The same electrodes were used, re-polished with emery paper ad re-weighted. The
electrolysis was repeated using 0.5M H2SO4 solution. The observation at electrode and
electrolyte were recorded.
CuSO4
24.9801 g
24.1974 g
0.7827 g
25.3221 g
26.5121 g
1.1900 g
H2SO4
24.6355 g
22.1363 g
2.4992 g
25.2822 g
28.1709 g
2.8887 g
1.6410 g
2.0394 g
Time-amperage measurements
Time (secs)
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
360
390
420
450
480
510
540
570
600
Average Current
CuSO4
Current (A)
0.00
0.98
2.75
3.20
3.60
4.05
4.54
5.07
5.52
5.98
6.38
6.74
7.01
7.20
8.16
8.53
8.77
8.81
8.71
8.61
8.80
5.88
H2SO4
Current (A)
0.00
10.43
10.97
11.51
11.98
12.57
13.12
13.52
13.83
14.00
14.12
14.29
14.47
14.68
14.34
14.44
14.66
14.77
14.76
12.76
CuSO4
600 s
H2SO4
540 s
5.88
12.76
3528
22
2.202x10 electrons
22
2+
1.101x10 Cu ions
6890 coul
22
4.300x10 electrons
22
2+
2.150x10 Cu ions
21
1.407x10
22
Cu atoms/g
23
8.939 x 10 Cu atoms
23
6.022x10
23
2.919x10
48.49%
21
9.2521 x 10 Cu
atoms/g
23
8.939x10
23
6.022x10
23
6.0129 x 10
48.49%
8.605x10 Cu
atoms/g
23
5.468x10 Cu atoms
23
6.022x10
24
0.554x10
9.20%
21
8.605x10 Cu
atoms/g
23
5.468x10
23
6.022x10
23
6.0201 x 10
99.96%
CALCULATIONS:
Number of electrons:
-19
=3528 coul x(1 electron/1.6022x10 )
22
=2.202x10 electrons
Number of electrons:
-19
6890 coul x(1 electron/1.6022x10 )
22
= 4.300x10 electrons
Anode
Percent error:
23
23
Absolute error: 8.939x10 - 6.022x10 =
23
2.919x10
23
Percent error: 2.919x10 x 100%
23
6.022x10
= 48.49%
Percent error:
23
23
Absolute error: 5.468x10 - 6.022x10
24
= 0.554x10
24
Percent error: 1.149x10 x 100%
23
6.022x10
= 9.20%
Cathode
Percent error:
20
23
Absolute error: 9.1198 x 10 - 6.022x10
23
= -(6.0129 x 10 )
23
Percent error: 6.0129 x 10 x 100%
23
6.022x10
= 99.85%
Percent error:
20
23
Absolute error: 1.1713 x 10 - 6.022x10
23
= -(6.0201 x 10 )
24
Percent error: 1.149x10 x 100%
23
6.022x10
= 99.96%
2-
O2 + 4H + 4e 2H2O
-
2+
(aq)+ 2e Cu (s)
-
At anode, due to the fact that the position of OH in the standard reduction potential (SRP) list is lower
22than the SO4 , therefore, OH was much easier to be discharged compared to SO4 . Whereas at
2+
+
Cu was discharged due to its higher ability to be discharged compared to H .
2+
2+
Here, it is clearly shown that the Cu ions needed to compete only with H ions, however Cu ions
2+
would definitely be discharged easily. Higher chances of Cu ions to be reduced caused the
deposition of Cu to be high, say, more efficient. On the other hand, there was a slight difference that
occurred in CuSO4 which can be explained through the half equations as below.
2+
O2 + 4H + 4e 2H2O
-
Cu (aq)+2e Cu(s)
When a very small external current is applied to the copper electrodes, then the equilibrium between
2+
Cu in the solution and the Cu of the electrodes is disturbed. Copper goes into solution at the anode
and an equivalent amount of copper ions are deposited at the cathode (PHYWE, no date).
Theoretically, there is therefore no change in the total amount of dissolved copper sulphate, however,
experiment showed otherwise. The net loss and gain for the electrodes did not tally. The mass loss by
anode was lower compared to the mass gained by the cathode. The possible error was from the
weighing of the electrodes. The electrode must be dried completely before being weighed. The
contribution from electrolyte might have caused the cathode to gain phantom mass.