School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences

1​st​ Quarter S.Y. 2020-2021

Experiment No. 4

Galvanic Cell

Submitted by: Date Submitted:October 17, 2020

Group No: ​4

Leader: Abaya, Pearl Princess Mae A.

Antonio, Arvin Clyde L.
Cascon, John Patrick M.
Delector, Derick R.
Mendoza, Joshua Alberto B.

PROF. RAY MATTHEW A. BUNQUIN

Faculty In-charge
 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences

1​st​ Quarter S.Y. 2020-2021

CM011L - A12

1. INTRODUCTION

A. Brief Background

Galvanic cells are also called voltaic cells where spontaneous electrochemical
reactions occur in which half cells are separated from each other. Electrochemical reactions
are defined as a process of electrons flowing from one chemical solution to another or
accompanied by the passage of electric current involving transfer of electrons between
solutions (Bockris, n.d.). The Galvanic cell was named after an Italian physicist and
physician Luigi Galvani after observing a frog’s leg muscle twitches when electric shock was
applied. In addition, galvanic cells use the energy released during a spontaneous redox
reaction in generating electricity.

B. Objective

1. To have a review on electrochemistry.

2. To determine the anode-cathode combination that has the highest cell
potential.

2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

2.1 ​Result of the experiment

Table No.1 ​Collected data from Redox Reaction

Iron Plate Nickel Plate​(-0.26V) Zinc plate ​(-0.76V)

(-0.45V)

Silver Plate 1.25V 1.06V 1.56V

(0.80V)

Copper 0.79V 0.60V 1.1V

Plate​(0.34V)

Lead Plate 0.32V 0.13V 0.47V

(-0.13V)

2.2 ​Sample Calculation

 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences

1​st​ Quarter S.Y. 2020-2021

There are two values needed to calculate cell potential, it is the cathode and anode.
To calculate the cell potential, the cell potential can be determined by using the formula:

E Cell = E Cathode − E Anode

= 0.80V − (− 0.76V )
= 1.56V

To get the value of cathode and anode base on the table of Standard Reduction
Potentials.

2.3 ​Discussion

Electrochemistry is the study of electricity and the chemical process that cause
electrons to move. The transfer of electrons is called oxidation and reduction reaction. The
cathode is the positive electrode in the galvanic cell while the anode is the negative
electrode. The cathode is the place where reduction reactions take place while anode is the
place where the oxidation reaction takes place.

Redox reactions are made up of two reactions namely oxidation reaction and
reduction reaction. Moreover, the redox reaction only occurs in electrons transferred from a
specific substance that is oxidized to another that is being reduced. In determining which is
the reductant and oxidant, it can be identified through the loss and gain of electrons. Once
the substance loses electrons, it is therefore called as the reductant and if otherwise, then it
is called as oxidant which can be reduced in the process. The number of electrons lost from
the reductant will be equal to the number of electrons gained by the oxidant because it only
transferred to another solution or substance.

Figure 1. ​Metal Reactivity Series

 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences

1​st​ Quarter S.Y. 2020-2021

3. CONCLUSION

This experiment used redox reaction to identify the highest cell potential of an
anode-cathode combination. ​Oxidation-Reduction reactions are the movement of electrons
between atoms. Reduction is the gain of electrons and oxidation is the loss of electrons.
Electrons are negatively charged particles and as you add electrons to an element the
charge lowers thus gaining electrons or becoming reduced. Based on the experiment
conducted, the zinc on anode and silver on cathode gave the highest voltage or highest cell
potential. It is concluded that the combination of least and most reactive metal results in
highest cell potential and biggest voltage generated. In general, the farther the metals are
away from one another in the reactivity series, the bigger the cell potential.

4. REFERENCES

Beran, J.A. (n.d.). ​Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry. ​(10th edition).
USA:Wiley.

Electrochemistry. (2020). Retrieved from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Anal
ytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry#:~:text=Electrochemistry%20is%20the%20study%20of%
20chemical%20processes%20that%20cause%20electrons,(%22redox%22)%20reaction.

Flowers, P., Langley, R., & Theopold, K. (2015). ​Chemistry​. Retrieved from
https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/17-2-galvanic-cells/