John Carlo Lisondato September 9, 2018 Tuesday 2:35-5:35pm

BS-ECE 1A Mrs. Barbara Tumacder

Experiment 4
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

Objectives:
 To explain the concept of electrons flow, anions and cations
 To examine how standard reduction potentials are measured
 To describe the effect of concentration to the cell potential
 To determine the purpose of hydrogen fuel
 To show batteries work and the basic principle of producing electrical energy
from chemical energy.

B. DATA SHEET

A. Electrochemical cell:

Electrochemical Anode: Zinc Cathode: E cell

cell #1 Aluminum measurement

Half-reaction 3Zn(s)→3Zn2+(aq) 2Al3+(aq) + 6e-

+ 6e- →2Al(s)
0.47 volts
E cell = -0.76
E cell= -1.66volts
volts

Over-all reaction: 3Zn(s)+2Al3+(aq) → 3Zn2+(aq) + 2Al(s) E cell = -0.90 volts

Shorthand cell Zn(s) | Zn2+(aq) || Al3+(aq) | Al(s) % difference =

designation -152%

Electrochemical Anode: Cathode: Copper E cell

cell #2 Aluminum measurement

Half-reaction 2Al(s)→2Al3+(aq) + 3Cu2+(aq) + 6e-

6e- →3Cu(s)
0.55 volts
E cell = -1.66
E cell = 0.34 volts
volts

Over-all reaction: 2Al(s)+3Cu2+(aq) → 2Al3+(aq) + 3Cu(s) E cell = 2.00 volts

Shorthand cell Al(s) | Al3+(aq) || Cu2+(aq) | Cu (s) % difference =

designation 70.00%
 Electrochemical Anode: Zinc Cathode: Copper E cell
cell #3 measurement

Half-reaction Zn(s)→Zn2+(aq) + Cu2+(aq) + 2e- →

2e- Cu(s) 1.06 volts
E cell = -0.76
E cell = 0.34 volts
volts

Over-all reaction: Zn(s)+Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq)+Cu(s) E cell = 1.10 volts

Shorthand cell Zn(s) | Cu2+(aq) || Zn2+(aq) | Cu(s) % difference = 40

designation %

B. Concentration cell

Electrochemical Anode: Cu Cathode: Al E cell

cell #4 Concentration: Concentration: measurement
0.1 M 1M

Half-reaction Cu(s) →Cu2+(0.1 M) + Cu2+(1.0M) + 2e-

2e- →Cu(s) 0.01 volts
E°cell = +0.34 E°cell = +0.34

Over-all reaction: Cu2+aq (1.0 M) →Cu2+aq (0.1 M) E cell = 0.03

volts

Shorthand cell Cu / Cu2+(0.1 M) // Cu2+(1.0 M) / Cu % difference =

designation 66.67%

Calculation of the E cell

𝟐.𝟑𝟎𝟑 𝑹𝑻 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒅𝒆
E cell = E°- 𝐥𝐨𝐠
𝒏𝑭 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒅𝒆

𝑱
𝟐.𝟑𝟎𝟑(𝟖.𝟑𝟏𝟒 )(𝟐𝟓°𝐂+𝟐𝟕𝟑.𝟏𝟓) 𝟏.𝟎 𝑴
𝑲𝒎𝒐𝒍
E cell = 0 V - 𝑪 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟎.𝟏 𝑴
(𝟐)(𝟗𝟔𝟒𝟖𝟓 )
𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒆−

E cell = 0.030 V
C.) Electrolytic cell

Anode half-reaction: 2Cl- (l) → Cl2(g) + 2e- ECl2/Cl- = +1.3 volts

Cathode half-reaction: Na+(l) + e- → Na(l) ENa+/Na = -2.7 volts

Over-all reaction: 2Na+(l) + 2Cl-(l) → 2Na(l) + Cl2(g)

E°cell = -4.0 volts

E.) Fruit battery

Fruit used as electrolyte:

Electrochemical Anode: Zinc Cathode: Copper E cell
cell #7 measurement

Half-reaction Zn(s)→Zn2+(aq) + Cu2+(aq) + 2e- →

0.96 volts
2e- Cu(s)
E cell = 0.76 volts
E cell = 0.34 volts

Over-all reaction: Zn(s)+Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq)+Cu(s) E cell =1.10V

Shorthand cell Zn(s) | Cu2+(aq) || Zn2+(aq) | Cu(s) % difference = 13%

designation

EXPLANATION:

The data shown above are the different metals (zinc, copper, aluminum) assigned
as cathode and anode that were used to test and explain the concept of electrons flow.
The anode is the electrode at which the oxidation half-reaction occurs, and the cathode
is the electrode at which the reduction half-reaction occurs (Electrochemical cells, 2017).
The Electrochemical cell No.1 shows the relationship between zinc and aluminum. It
shows that aluminum has a lower standard reduction potential, therefore it should be
oxidized, since in a galvanic cell, the component with lower standard reduction potential
gets oxidized and that it is added to the anode compartment. The second is therefore,
forms the cathode compartment. The Electrochemical cell No.2 shows that the copper
ions have a stronger pull on the electrons in aluminum than aluminum atoms themselves
have, resulting in a reaction, therefore, the voltage detected by the voltmeter confirms
there is a spontaneous reaction. The Electrochemical cell No. 3 shows that zinc metal is
more strongly reducing than copper metal; significantly, the reduction potential for zinc is
more negative than that of copper. Thus, zinc metal will lose electrons to copper ions and
develop a positive electrical charge. Electrochemical #1 has the highest emf to be
followed by the electrochemical cell #3 and electrochemical #2 respectively. Therefore,
electrochemical cell #1 has the highest driving force for the reaction to occur.
Regarding the fruit battery experiment, the fruit used (citrus) contains positively
charged ions. When inserted the metal (copper) is inserted into the fruit, the negatively
charged ions or the electrons started to move from the fruit to the metal, thus leaving the
protons in the fruit. This transfer of electrons generates electricity as soon as the wires
get attached to the metal strip.

CONCLUSION:

The anode is the electrode at which the oxidation half-reaction occurs, and the
cathode is the electrode at which the reduction half-reaction occurs. Reduction potential
measures the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons and thereby be
reduced. The more positive the potential, the greater the species tends to be reduced.
By the equilibrium law: Kc = [M2+]. M(s) cannot appear in the equilibrium law equation as
it's not in the same state. Therefore, an increase in concentration must cause the
equilibrium to move to the left-hand side making the electrode potential more positive and
decrease in concentration must have the opposite effect (University of Reading, 2007).

The production of electricity in the fruit is based on its chemical reaction. Lemon
produces citric acids that generates electricity.

REFERENCE:

http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=1934
https://www.toppr.com/bytes/everything-chemical-equilibrium/