Electrochemistry

1-4: Galvanic Cell

ES 10: Chemistry for Engineers

David A. Agbayani

Note: These lecture slides are not meant to be published.

 Reducing/Oxidizing Agent
• Reducing agent – the species that caused
reduction
– Usually the species that underwent oxidation

• Oxidizing agent – the species that caused

oxidation
– Usually the species that underwent reduction
 Examples
• Write a balanced ionic equation to represent
the oxidation of iodide ion (I-) by
permanganate ion (MnO4-) in basic solution
to yield molecular iodine (I2) and
last example.
manganese (IV) oxide (MnO2). Rec a ll
as oxidized to I ,
I- w 2

while MnO4 was

-

reduced reduced to MnO2

.
  
6I  2MnO 4  4H 2 O  3I 2  2MnO 2  8OH
oxidized
 Examples
• Write a balanced ionic equation to represent
the oxidation of iodide ion (I-) by
permanganate ion (MnO4-) in basic solution
to yield molecular iodine (I2) and
manganese (IV) oxide (MnO2). Th
e reduced sp
ecies is
the oxidizing
oxidizing agent agent.
  
6I  2MnO 4  4H 2 O  3I 2  2MnO 2  8OH
e cies is
reducing agent The oxid
iz
u
e
c
d
in
s
g
p
a gent.
the red
 Recall
If the redox reaction is spontaneous,
energy is: [ released or used up ? ] .

This means we can utilize the released energy

into another form that would be beneficial to
us, such as electrical energy.

So how do we make use of this energy?

 Recall
We can arrange the same redox reaction in
such a way that we can use or even measure
the energy released.
 Galvanic Cell
• An apparatus that generates electricity
using spontaneous redox reactions
 Recall action!
re
Spontaneous
Example of a redox reaction:
Zinc rod Zinc sulfate solution

Releases e
ne rgy!
Copper sulfate solution Solid copper
 n h a p p en s at the
Oxidatio lts to a
anode, w
lo s s o f e
h
le
i c
c
h
t r
r
o
e
n
su
s , thus, Galvanic Cell
s w ill b e r e leased We can tran
electron c t rode. spontaneou
sform this
t h i s e le
from s reaction …

a galva nic cell!

… into
 Galvanic Cell

l c o n t i n u e to
wi l
Electrons a l oa d , b e it
gh
flow throu a light bulb,
er,
a voltmet
etc.
Galvanic Cell Reduction h
appens at
the cathode
, which
results to a
gain of
electrons.
Galvanic Cell

This aqueous
solution will be2+
the source of Cu
ions for the
reduction half-
reaction.
 e s a l t b r idge,
Th that
g io n s
contain
will not
i
p
n
a r t i c i
s
p
,
a te in
will
Galvanic Cell
a c t i o n
the re c trical
e t h e e l e
complet
circuit.

K -
+
NO3
 Galvanic Cell

This aqueous
solution will be
the sink of Zn
2+

ions from the

oxidation half-
reaction.
 An ox Red cat
Galvanic Cell

Cathode
An od e : :
reductio
oxidation n
 Galvanic Cell
• An apparatus that generates electricity
using spontaneous redox reactions

• The oxidation half-reaction will occur at the

anode, while the reduction half-reaction will
occur at the cathode.
 Galvanic Cell
2 
• Zn electrode (anode): Zn ( s )  Zn ( aq )  2e
2 
• Cu electrode (cathode): Cu ( aq )  2e  Cu ( s )

2 2
Zn(s)  Cu ( aq )  Zn ( aq )  Cu ( s )
 Galvanic Cell
• An apparatus that generates electricity
using spontaneous redox reactions

• The oxidation half-reaction will occur at the

anode, while the reduction half-reaction will
occur at the cathode.

• Can be represented using a cell diagram

 Cell Diagram

The electrodes The anode

a t t he
will be written at leftmost, th
e
both ends of the cathode at
the
cell diagram. rightmost.

Zn (s) | Zn2+ (1 M) || Cu2+ (1 M) | Cu (s)

 Cell Diagram If the conc
entrations
are specif
ied, they
are reflect
ed in the
cell diagra
m.

This will be
followed by the gh to
participating ions If not, it is enou
note
in the aqueous write (aq) to de
a se o f
solutions. the aqueous ph
the species.

Zn (s) | Zn2+ (1 M) || Cu2+ (1 M) | Cu (s)

 Cell Diagram

The single
The double bar bars
separate the
in the middle species in
represents the different ph
salt bridge. ases,
i.e. solid, aq
ueous,
gaseous.
Zn (s) | Zn2+ (1 M) || Cu2+ (1 M) | Cu (s)
 Exercise
• Balance the following equation:
2 3
Fe  Al  Fe  Al
• Draw a sketch of the electrochemical cell for
the above redox reaction, i.e. the two half-
cells, the salt bridge, and the load /
voltmeter.
• Write the cell diagram.