CMT555

ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND CORROSION

SCIENCE
LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 1:

GALVANIC CELLS

NAME : AHMAD FAIZ ZIKRI BIN ALIAS

(2013379453)
: MUHAMAD AMIRUL BIN KAMARONZAMAN
(2014418924)

:UNGKU AMIRUL ARIF BIN UNGKU ABDULLAH

(2014836832)
:
LECTURER’S NAME : DR YUSAIRIE BIN MOHD

SUBMISSION DATE : 26 OCTOBER 2015

GROUP : AS245 4D
Galvanic Cell

Objectives:

a) To measure the relative reduction potentials for a number of half cell (redox) couples
in a galvanic cell.
b) To develop an understanding of the movement of electrons, anions and cations in a
galvanic cell.
c) To study factors affecting cell potentials.
d) To estimate the concentration of ions in solution using the Nernst Equation.

Results and Calculations:

A. Galvanic Cell – Reduction Potentials of Several Redox Couples

Galvanic Measured, Anode Equation for Cathode Equation for

Cell Ecell, V Anode Reaction Cathode
Reaction
Cu – Zn 0.997 Zn Zn → Zn2+ + 2e- Cu Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu
Cu – Fe 0.694 Fe Fe → Fe2+ + 2e- Cu Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu
Zn – Fe 0.298 Zn Zn → Zn2+ + 2e- Fe Fe2+ + 2e- → Fe

Overall equation of each reactions:

1) Cu – Zn:
Zn + Cu2+ → Zn2+ + Cu
2) Cu – Fe:
Fe + Cu2+ → Fe2+ + Cu
3) Zn – Fe:
Zn + Fe2+ → Zn2+ + Fe

Redox Couples Reduction Potential Reduction Potential % error

(measured), V (Calculated), V
Cu2+/Cu 0.207 0.310 35
Fe2+/Fe -0.487 -0.470 -3.6
Zn2+/Zn -0.790 -0.760 -3.9
Reduction Potential (measured):

Zn = -0.79V

Cu – Zn:

Ecell = Ecat - Eano

0.997 = ECu – (-0.79)

ECu = 0.207V

Cu - Fe:

0.694 = 0.207 - EFe

EFe = -0.487V

Reduction Potential (Calculated):

0.0592 [𝑍𝑛2+ ]
Ecell = E°cell – log [𝐶𝑢2+]
2

Cu – Zn:
0.0592 [𝑍𝑛2+ ]
ECu– EZn = E°Cu - E°Zn – log [𝐶𝑢2+ ]
2

0.0592 [0.1]
ECu – (-0.79) = [0.34-(-0.76)] – log [0.1]
2

ECu – (-0.79) = 1.1

ECu = 0.31V

Cu – Fe:
0.0592 [𝐹𝑒 2+ ]
ECu– EFe = E°Cu - E°Fe – log [𝐶𝑢2+]
2

0.31 – EFe = [0.34 – (-0.44)]

EFe = -0.47V
Percentage Error:
0.310−0.201
Cu2+/Cu = × 100%
0.31

= 35%

B. Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

1. Cell potential of ‘concentration cell’ : 0.058V

Anode reaction : Cu→ Cu2+ + 2e-

Cathode reaction : Cu2+ + 2e- →Cu

The small voltage produces in other to reach equilibrium due to difference in

solution concentration.

1) Cell potential from complex formation : 0.502V

Observation of solution in half-cell : The colour of solution 0.001 M
CuSO4 change from colourless to
light blue colour

More Cu2+ ions flow from cathode and the concentration of Cu2+ ions decrease.

2) The cell potential decreases when NH3 added to 1M CuSO4 instead of 0.001M
CuSO4 solution because the mole concentration of 1M CuSO4 are higher than
0.001M CuSO4.

C. The Nernst Equation and Unknown Concentration.

Solution Concentration Log [Cu2+] Ecell Ecell
Number of Cu(NO3)2, (measured) (calculated)
M
1 0.1 -1 0.928 1.100
2 0.001 -3 0.898 1.040
3 0.0001 -5 0.864 0.982
4 0.0000001 -7 0.835 0.922
5(unknown) 0.00006 -4.2 0.878 -

Dilution of Cu(NO3)2:

m1v1 = m2v2

solution2:

0.1(1) = m2(100)

M = 0.001
 1. Cu(NO3)2 0.1M
0.0592 [𝑍𝑛2+ ]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 =𝐸°𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 log[𝐶𝑢2+]
𝑛
0.0592 [0.1]
ECu2+/Cu – EZn2+/Zn = E°Cu2+/ Cu - E°Zn2+/Zn - 𝑙𝑜𝑔 [0.1]
2
= 0.34 – (-0.76)
= 1.100 V

[0.1]
2. Ecell = 1.1 − 0.0296 log [0.001]
= 1.040V

[0.1]
3. Ecell = 1.1 − 0.0296 log [0.00001]
= 0.982V

[0.1]
4. Ecell = 1.1 − 0.0296 log [0.0000001]
= 0.922V

Concentration of unknown:

-4.2 = log [Cu2+]

[Cu2+] = 10-4.2

= 0.00006M

Discussion:

In reduction potentials for several redox. Basically, redox is a chemical reaction involving
transfer of electrons from one reactant to another and not giving out product, instead it
balance out each other. One reactant will be giving up electrons which is oxidation, where the
other will receive the electrons which is reduction. The increase of oxidation number
indicates the oxidation reaction, where decrease of oxidation number indicates the reduction
reaction. Salt-bridge is sued to allow a current of ions from one half-cell to other to complete
the circuit of electron current in the external wires. In Cu-Zn, Zn electrode will experience
oxidation on the positive anode, where it will gives off electron to Cu electrode, where Cu
electrode experience reduction reaction. Zn potential is -0.79 V and Cu potential is +0.34, this
fact support the experiment where the more positive (less negative) the reduction potential,
the greater the tendency for the reduction to occur. Therefore, Zn electrode is a positive
anode electrode and Cu electrode is a negative cathode electrode. The arrangement of redox
couples, decreasing order:
 Cu2+ > Fe2+ > Zn2+

The experiment is conducted to investigate the effect of solution concentration towards cell
potential. The experiment proves that the concentration plays crucial role in cell potential.
Nernst equation is used to determine the concentration of solution in a galvanic cells by
calculating the Ecell. The first experiment was conducted to identify factors that could affect
cell potentials and to estimate the concentration of ions in the solution using Nernst equation.
The cell potential depends on many factors; nature of oxidizing agents and reducing agents,
the concentration of the salt solutions in the half-cells, the temperature of the solutions and
the atmospheric pressure. In this experiment, the factors that were conducted were molar
concentration, the complex formation and the precipitate formation. Based on the result, the
small voltage produces is as the act for the solution to reach equilibrium of equal
concentration. The addition of NH3 to the 0.001M cause voltage increment. This is because
more Cu2+ ions flow from cathode and the concentration of Cu2+ ions decreases.

From Nernst Equation, unknown concentration can be determined by plotting graph

of Ecell versus log [Cu2+]. Cell potential of galvanic cell at any concentration can be determine
by using Nernst equation. It also provide determination of cell potential at non standard
condition such temperature.

Conclusion:

Galvanic cell is spontaneous reaction, it convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Thus,
each redox couples produces different cell potential. Electrons are moving from higher
potential energy to lower potential energy. Factors affecting cell potentials are dominated by
molar concentration of solution, followed by complex formation and then, the precipitate
formation. Increasing the concentration of product, Ecell will decreases.