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CH 4
CH 4
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
d
HE potential difference between two electrodes of a galvanic cell is called
Cell Potential and is measured in volts. It is the difference between the
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reduction potentials (or oxidation potentials) of the cathode and anode. When
no current is drawn from the cell it is called electromotive force (emf) of the cell.
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The potential of individual half-cells cannot be measured. We can measure
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only the difference between the two half-cell potentials that gives the emf of the
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cell. According to convention, standard hydrogen electrode represented by
Pt, H2 (g, 1 bar)/H+ (aq, 1M) is assigned zero potential at all temperatures
E
corresponding to the reaction.
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1
H (aq) + e ⎯→
+ –
H (g)
2 2
to N
Half cell potentials are measured with respect to standard hydrogen electrode.
A cell is constructed by taking standard hydrogen electrode as anode
(reference half cell) and under standard conditions of which cell potential is to be
measured, is made cathode the other half cell. Then the cell potential is equal to
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V RT [M]
E n+ =E n+ ln n+
M /M M /M nF [M ]
the concentration of solid M is taken as unity and we have
V RT 1
E n+ =E n+ ln n+
M /M M /M nF [M ]
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
–1 –1
Here R is the gas constant (8.314 JK mol ), F is Faraday
–1 n+
constant (96487C mol ), T is the temperature in Kelvin and [M ]
is the concentration of the species, M n+ .
In the following experiment the variation in the cell potential
of Zn/Zn2+||Cu2+ /Cu cell with concentration of electrolytes will
be studied.
EXPERIMENT 4.1
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Aim
To study the variation in cell potential of the cell Zn/Zn2+ ||Cu2+/Cu
with change in concentration of electrolytes (CuSO4/ZnSO4) at room
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temperature.
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Theory
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The cell under investigation in this experiment is represented as
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follows:
Zn(s)/Zn 2+(aq., 1.0M) || Cu 2+ (aq., x M)/Cu(s)
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V
Equation (2) clearly suggests that even if E Zn2+ /Zn is kept
no
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LABORATORY MANUAL CHEMISTRY
Material Required
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E
Fig. 4.1 : Set up of Zn(s)/Zn2+(aq.), (1.0M) || Cu 2+ (aq., xM)/Cu(s) cell
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Procedure
(i) Set up the cell as given in Fig. 4.1, using 1.0 M ZnSO4 and
to N
(vi) Calculate log [Cu2+ (aq)] and then E Cu2 for each variation
no
/Cu
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ELECTROCHEMISTRY
1. 0.2
2. 0.1
3. 0.05
4. 0.025
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5. 0.0125
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Result
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Precautions
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(a)
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Clean copper and zinc strips and connecting wires with sand paper before use.
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(b) Place the salt bridge immediately in distilled water after its use.
(c) Carry out dilution of the solution to another concentration very carefully.
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Discussion Questions
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(i) For the reaction given below, apply Le-Chatelier principle to justify the results recorded by
you and also bring out mathematical rationalisation of your results.
(iv) What factor is kept in mind while selecting an electrolytic solution for the construction of a
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salt bridge?
(v) Is it possible to measure the single electrode potential?
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