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Introduction
Electrochemical cell

An electrochemical cell is a device that

can generate electrical energy from the
chemical reactions occurring in it, or use the
electrical energy supplied to it to facilitate
chemical reactions in it. These devices are
capable of converting chemical energy into
electrical energy, or vice versa. A common
example of an electrochemical cell is a
standard 1.5-volt cell.
A galvanic cell is an electrochemical cell that
converts the chemical energy of a
spontaneous redox reaction into electrical
energy. In this device the Gibbs free energy
of the spontaneous redox reaction is
converted into electrical work which may be
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used for running a motor or other electrical

gadgets like heater,fan,geyser,etc.
These cells have two half cells,each having
an electrode placed in the solution of its
ions.
Anode
The half-cell in which oxidation occurs is
called the anode. This is the half-cell in
which metal atoms lose electrons (are
oxidized) to form positively charged ions
(which go into solution). The electrons
flow into the external circuit from the
anode.
Cathode
The half-cell in which reduction occurs is
called the cathode. This is the half-cell
in which metal ions from the solution gain
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electrons (are reduced) and plate out

onto the electrode as uncharged atoms.
The electrons flow out of the external
circuit into the cathode.

Salt bridge
It is a inverted U- Shaped glass tube
containing solution of insert electrolyte (
Kcl,KNo3,NH4 NO3 etc.).It connects
the solution of two half cells and
maintains the electrical neutrality of
solutions of both half cells.It reduces
liquid-liquid junction potential.
sometimes,both the electrodes dip in the
same electrolyte solution and in such
cases we do not require salt bridge.
properties of inert electrolyte:
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*Ions of inert electrolyte do not involve

in any chemical change
*The mobility of cations and anions ~
mobility of anion of inert electrolyte.

Theory
Daniell cell is one such cell in which
the following redox reaction occurs.
Zn(s) + Cu(2+)(aq) →Zn(2+)(aq) + Cu(s)

This reaction is a combination of two

half reactions whose addition gives
the overall cell reaction:

(i) Cu(2+) + 2e– →Cu(s) ( reduction half reaction)

(ii) Zn(s) →Zn(2+) + 2e– (oxidation half reaction)
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Construction and working

of an electrochemical cell

We take a Zn rod and place it

in a container filled with CuSO4
solution, heat will be produced. This
happens due a spontaneous redox
reaction as given below:
Zn(Solid) + CuSO4(Aqueous)→ ZnSO4(Aqueous) + Cu (Solid) deposited
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As the reaction would proceed, Zn rod

would get eroded, Cu particles get
deposited and solution would become
warm.Oxidation reaction in Zn rod
releases 2e- and are taken by Cu2+
ion in CuSO4 solution. Ifthese two
half reactions can be separated, then
the electrons can be made to move
through a wire. In this manner, we can
produce electrical energy from chemical
energy. The salt bridge is a
concentrated solution of inert
electrolytes. It is required for
completing the circuit.It allows the
movement of ions from one solution to
the other.
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Materials Required:
1.1M zinc sulfate solution
2.Copper sulfate solution
3.Zinc electrode
4.copper electrode
5.Beakers
6.Voltmeter (or) Potentiometer
7.Salt bridge
8.Connecting wires

Procedure
Preparation of Salt Bridge:
*In a U-shaped tube heat 20gm of
agar-agar gel and 5gm of potassium
chloride in a beaker.
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*Suck the molten mixtures into

U-shaped tube.
*Allow it to cool.
1.Prepare 1M of zinc sulfate solution
and 1M of copper sulfate solution in
separate beakers.
2.Connect a salt bridge in such a
manner that its one end dips in zinc
sulfate and the other dips in copper
sulfate solution.
3.Now connect the zinc plate to
negative terminal of voltmeter and
copper plate to positive terminal of
voltmeter.
4.Note down the reading of voltmeter
in observation table.
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5.Take 10ml of 1M zinc sulfate and

add water to make its volume up to
100ml. The resultant molarity will be
0.1M.
6.Now dip zinc rod in 0.1M zinc
sulfate solution and copper rod in 1M
copper sulfate solution and note the
readings.
7.Repeat the same for 0.1M and
0.01M of zinc sulfate solution.
8.Note down the reading in voltmeter.
9.Repeat this procedure for other
solutions of copper sulfate solutions.
10.Record electrode potentials values
of copper electrodes for different
concentrations.
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11.Plot a graph for the variation of

cell potential with concentration.
12.Calculate Ecell in each case and
write down in the observation table.

Observation and Inference:

Molarity of Molarity of Voltmeter

CuSO4(M) ZnSO4(M) reading(v)
1M 1M 1.1
O.1M O.1M 1.078
1M 0.1M 1.080
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Calculations:
ECell = E°Cell – (0.0592V/n)log
[(Zn2+)/(Cu2+)]
E°Cell = E°(cathode) – E°(anode)
R = 8.314
T = 298K
F = 96500C
n = 2 (number of electrons lost or gained)
By substituting all the values
ECell = E°Cell – (0.0592V/n)log
[(Zn2+)/(Cu2+)]

We can measure ECell at different

concentration of electrolyte
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Results and Discussions:

1.The Ecell decreases with increase in molar

concentration of [Zn2+].
2.The Ecell increases with increase in molar
concentration of [Cu2+].
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Bibliography

https://www.studocu.com
https://surface.syr.edu
https://www.scribd.com
https://www.google.com
https://www.studocu.com
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