FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE

LABORATORY REPORT

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
(CHM432)

Title of experiment ELECTROCHEMISTRY:

ELCTROCHEMICAL CELL AND
THERMODYNAMIC FUNCTIONS
No. Experiment 2

Name of student NUR SHARMILA IDANIE BINTI

MOHAMAD SHAIPUL
Student ID number 2020449762
Programme code AS2451
Date of submission 18/11/2020
Lecturer’s name DR NORAINI BINTI HAMZAH

Titles:
Electrochemistry : Electrochemical Cell and Thermodynamic Functions
Objectives:
1. To construct electrochemical cells
2. To determine the net cell potentials for three electrochemical cells
3. To calculate the net cell potential based on the potentials of the half-
reactions that occur and to compare experimental and calculate values
4. To measure the Gibbs energy based on the cell potentials

Data Treatment and Discussion:

1. For each electrochemical cell :
Part I : Constructing the zinc-copper Electrochemical Cell
a) A complete cell diagram of zinc-copper electrochemical cell

b) Cell symbol / cell notation :

2+¿ 2+¿
Zn(s) | ¿ (aq,0.1 M) || (aq,0.20 M) | Cu(s)
Zn Cu ¿

c) Standard cell potential:

E° cell = E°cathode – E°anode
= (+0.34 V) – (-0.76 V)
=1.10 V

Half reactions:
2+¿( aq) °
Anode: Zn (s) → + 2e E =−0.76 V
Zn¿
2+¿( aq) °
Cathode: + 2e → Cu(s) E =+0.34 V
Cu ¿
2+¿( aq)→ 2+¿ ( aq )+ ¿
Overall reaction : Zn (s) + Cu(s)
Cu ¿ Zn¿
 Electrode potential values:
0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n
2+¿
Zn¿
¿
0.0592
¿ E ° cell− log 2+¿
2 Cu ¿
¿
¿
¿
0.0592 [ 0.10]
¿ (1.10) - log
2 [ 0.20]
=1.11 V

d) Calculation∧table of ∆ G by using the experimental values of ∆ E :

2+¿
Zn¿
¿
Q = 2+¿
Cu¿
¿
¿
¿
[0.10]
=
[0.20]
=0.5

∆ G °=−nFE °
= - (2)(96500)(1.1)
212300 1 kJ
=- x
1 1000 J
= -212.3 kJ/mol

∆ G=∆ G°+ RTlnQ

= (-212.3) + (8.314 x 10
−3
)(298)ln(0.5)
= -214.02 kJ/mol

By using Nernst equation:

0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n
At equilibrium, Q = K eq and ∆G =0
0.0592
0 = (1.10) - log K eq
2
1.10 x 2
Log K eq =
0.0592
 =37.16
K eq = 1.45 x 10
37

 Since K > 0, ∆G < 0 , the reaction is spontaneous.

Part II : Constructing the iron-copper Electrochemical Cell

a) A complete cell diagram of iron-copper electrochemical cell

b) Cell symbol / cell notation :

2+¿ ( aq , 0.5 M ) 2+¿
Fe (s) | || (aq, 0.2M ) | Cu(s)
Fe ¿ Cu ¿
c) Standard cell potential
E° cell = E°cathode – E°anode
= (+0.34 V) – (-0.44 V)
=0.78 V

Half reactions:
2+¿(aq) °
Anode: Fe (s) → ¿ + 2e E =−0.44 V
Fe
2+¿( aq) °
Cathode: + 2e → Cu(s) E =+0.34 V
Cu ¿
2+¿( aq)→ 2+¿ ( aq )+ ¿
Overall reaction : Fe (s) + Cu(s)
Cu ¿ Fe¿
 Electrode potential values:
0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n
2+¿
Fe¿
¿
0.0592 2+¿
¿ E ° cell− log
2 Cu
¿

¿
¿
¿
0.0592 [ 0.50]
¿ (0.78) - log
2 [ 0.20]
=0.77 V

d) Calculation∧table of ∆ G by using the experimental values of ∆ E :

2+¿
Fe¿
¿
Q= 2+¿
Cu¿
¿
¿
¿
[0.50]
=
[0.20]
=2.5

∆ G °=−nFE °
= - (2)(96500)(0.78)
150540 1 kJ
=- x
1 1000 J
= -150.54 kJ/mol

∆ G=∆ G°+ RTlnQ

= (-150.54) + (8.314 x −3
10 )(298)ln(2.5)
= -148.27 kJ/mol

By using Nernst equation:

0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n
At equilibrium, Q = K eq and ∆G =0
0.0592
0 = (0.78) - log K eq
2
 0.78 x 2
Log K eq =
0.0592
= 26.35
K eq =2.24 x 10
26

 Since K > 0, ∆G < 0 , the reaction is spontaneous.

Part III : Constructing the iron-zinc Electrochemical Cell

a) A complete cell diagram of iron-zinc electrochemical cell
b) Cell symbol / cell notation :
2+¿ ( aq ,0.5 M )
Fe¿
¿
2+¿ ( aq , 0.1 M )∨¿
Zn ( s )∨Zn ¿

c) Standard cell potential

° ° °
E cell = E cathode – E anode
= (-0.44 V) – (-0.76 V)
= 0.32 V

Half reactions:
2+¿( aq)
Anode: Zn(s) → + 2e E° =−0.76 V
Zn¿
2+¿( aq) °
Cathode: ¿ + 2e → Fe(s) E =−0.44 V
Fe
2+¿( aq)→ 2+¿ ( aq )+ ¿
Overall reaction : Zn (s) + ¿ Fe(s)
Fe Zn¿

Electrode potential values:

0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n
2+¿
Zn¿
¿
0.0592 2+¿
¿ E ° cell− log
2 Fe¿
¿
¿
¿
0.0592 [0.1]
¿ (0.32) - log
2 [0.5]
= 0.34 V

d) Calculation∧table of ∆ G by using the experimental values of ∆ E

2+¿
Zn¿
¿
Q= 2+¿
Fe¿
¿
¿
¿
[0.1]
=
[0.5]
 =0.2

∆ G °=−nFE °
= - (2)(96500)(0.32)
61760 1 kJ
=- x
1 1000 J
= -61.76 kJ/mol

∆ G=∆ G°+ RTlnQ

= (-61.76) + (8.314 x 10
−3
)(298)ln(0.2)
= -65.74 kJ/mol

By using Nernst equation:

0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n
At equilibrium, Q = K eq and ∆G =0
0.0592
0 = (0.34) - log K eq
2
0.34 x 2
Log K eq =
0.0592
=11.49
K eq = 3.09 x 10
11

 Since K > 0, ∆G < 0 , the reaction is spontaneous.

 2. Comparing the calculated cell potentials that have been measured for
voltages of electrochemical cells :
I. Part I : Constructing the zinc-copper Electrochemical Cell
Average Ecell is 1.08 V meanwhile the calculated cell
potential is 1.11 V.
II. Part II : Constructing the iron-copper Electrochemical Cell
Average Ecell is 0.68 V meanwhile the calculated cell
potential is 0.77 V.
III. Part III : Constructing the iron-zinc Electrochemical Cell
Average Ecell is equal to the calculated cell potential which
is 0.34 V.

Possible sources of error.

1. Temperature. As the standard reduction potential (SRP) is dependent
on temperature (25֯ C). So, if temperature is too high, the voltage
become lower.
2. Electrode crust. The crusty electrodes decreased the flows between
solution and electrodes (decrease electron flow) because it all happens
on a surfaces electrodes. So, we must clean the electrodes properly to
avoid that crust from happens.
3. Salt bridge drying out. This way produced poor electron flow. So, the
salt bridge not fully immersed as the standard cell potential also
affected.

Conclusion:
1. The electrochemical cells were successfully constructed.
2. The net cell potentials for three electrochemical cells were determined by
using formula:
° ° °
E cell = E cathode – E anode
3. The net cell potential based on the potentials of the half reactions that
occur have been compared between the experimental and calculated
value which are :
a. Part I : Constructing the zinc-copper Electrochemical Cell
 Average Ecell is 1.08 V meanwhile the calculated cell potential is
1.11 V.
b. Part II : Constructing the iron-copper Electrochemical Cell
Average Ecell is 0.68 V meanwhile the calculated cell potential is
0.77 V.
c. Part III : Constructing the iron-zinc Electrochemical Cell
Average Ecell is equal to the calculated cell potential which is
0.34 V.
4. The Gibbs energy were measured based on the cell potentials were
measured as shown in the calculation.

References
1. https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Howard_University/Gener
al_Chemistry
%3A_An_Atoms_First_Approach/Unit_7%3A_Thermodynamics_
and_Electrochemistry/Chapter_19%3A_Electrochemistry/Chap
ter_19.4%3A_Electrochemical_Cells_and_Thermodynamics
2. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-
chemistry/chapter/cell-potentials/#:~:text=In%20a
%20galvanic%20cell%2C%20the,is%20nonspontaneous
%20(%20electrolytic%20cell).
3. http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/electpot.html
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLbp5Tko0Kg
Questions
1. What is the reasons for using a salt bridge?
 The reasons for using a salt bridge is to complete the electric
circuit and allow ion to flow.
2. Calculate the standard cell potential of a cell constructed from
2+¿/ Mg 2+¿/ ¿
and . Which is the anode and which is the cathode?
Mg ¿ ¿¿

2+ ¿(aq)+2 e °
Anode: ¿ E =¿ -1.85 V
Mg ( s ) → Mg
2+¿
Cathode: (aq) + 2e → Ni(s)
¿¿
°
E =¿ -0.25 V

° °
E° cell = E cathode – E anode
= (-0.25 V) – (-1.85 V)
= 1.6 V
Mg is anode.
Ni is cathode.

3. Using the Nernst equation,what would be the potential of a cell with

2+¿ 2+¿
[ =[ = 0.10 M
¿¿ Mg¿

0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n
0.0592 [0.1]
= 1.6 - log
2 [0.1]
= 1.6 V
 4. What is the information deduced from the sign and magnitude of ΔE
and ΔG from the experiment?
The ΔE and ΔG can be used to predict the spontaneity of a redox
reaction under standard conditions which means the signs of ΔE, ΔG
the magnitude of K determine the direction of spontaneous reaction
under standard conditions.

JOTTER