Electrochemical

Cells
By Apoorv Prakash 12-B
Name : Apoorv Prakash
Class : 12th B
Roll no : 6
Teacher: Mrs. Saroj Dhingra

Presentation title 2
Electro Chemical Cell :
Whenever a redox reaction is
allowed to take place directly in
a single beaker, it is found that
the solution becomes hot. For
example, when a zinc is placed
in a copper solution, the
solution is found to warmer as
the reaction proceeds according
to the equation.

Presentation title 3
Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) ---> ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)

Sim ilar results are observed when a rod of

copper is placed in silver solution. The
reaction taking place as follows:

Cu(s) + 2 AgNO3 ---> CuNO3 + 2 Ag

Thus, we conclude that whenever a redox takes

place directly in a single beaker, chemical
energy in the form of heat is produced . By
suitable means it is possible to bring out the
redox reaction indirectly so as to convert the
chemical energy into the electrical energy.

Presentation title 4
Experimental Arrangement

A zinc rod is placed in the zinc

sulphate solution taken in a
beaker. A copper rod is placed in
the copper sulphate solution
taken in another beaker. The two
rods are connected by a wire and
two solutions are connected by a
salt bridge.

Presentation title 5
Representation of
Electrochemical Cell

An electrochemical cell is represented

in a manner as illustrated below for
the danial cell.

Zn / Zn2+ (C1) || Cu2+ (C2) / Cu

Presentation title 6
Salt Brigade and Its Function
A salt- brigad e is a U- sh aped tube con tain ing
concen trated so lu tion of an in er t electro lyte lik e KCI,
KNO , K SO etc. or so lid if ied so lu tion of su ch an
3 2 4

electro lyte in agar-agar and gelatine. An inert

electro lyte is on e whose ions do no t tak e p ar t in the
r edo x reaction and also do no t r eact w ith electro lyte
used. The fun ction of th e salt br id ge is to allow the
mov emen t of th e ions fro m on e so lu tion to the o ther
w ithou t mixin g of th e two solu tion s. Thus, wh er eas the
electrons f low in the ou ter cir cu it in th e w ire, th e inner
circu it is comp leted b y th e f low of ions fro m one
so lu tion to the o th er throu gh th e salt br id ge moreov er,
it h elp s to main tain th e electr ical neu tr ality of the
so lu tion is th e tw o h alf cells.

Presentation title 7
Thus main function of the salt brigade are :-
(i) To complete the electrical circuit by allowing
the ions to flow form one solution to the other
without mixing of the two solutions.
(ii) To maintain the electrical neutrality of the
solutions in the two half cells.
Let us see what would happen if the salt bridge
were not used in the cells shown in Fig. 2
electrons given out by the zinc electrode where
they will neutralize some of the Cu2+ ions of the
solution. Thus So42- ions will not leave and the
solution will acquire a negative charge. At the
same time, Zn2+ ions produced from zinc plate
will enter into ZnSo4 solution thus giving will
stop and hence the current stops working.

Presentation title 8
To Calculate the Standard of emf
of Any Electrochemical Cell
An electrochemical cell is based on reaction which can be
split into the two half reaction, viz.

(i) Oxidation half reaction

(ii) Reduction half reaction

Standard EMF of the cell = (Standard reduction potential

of the reduction half reaction)
-(Standard reduction potential of the oxidation half
reaction)

Presentation title 9
Some Important Features
Above cell may be summed up as follows :-
i) The zinc electrode at which oxidation takes place
is called the anode. The copper electrode at which
the reduction takes place is called the cathode.

ii) Since electrons are produced at the zinc

electrodes, this electrode is rich in electrons pushes
the electrons into the external circuit and hence it
is designated as the negative pole. The other
electrode i.e., the copper electrode is in the need of
electrons for the reduction of Cu2+ ions into the Cu
i.e., this electrode is deficient in electrons and
pulse the electrons from the external circuit,
therefore it acts as the positive pole.

Presentation title 10
iii) The electrons flow from the negative pole to
the positive pole in the external circuit. However,
conventionally, this current is set to flow in the
opposite direction.

iv) The oxidation of zinc into ions produces

excess of zn42+ ions in the left beaker. Similarly,
the reduction of copper ions to copper atoms
leaves the excess. So, the ions in the solution in
the right beaker. To maintain electrical neutrality
of the solution in the two beakers, the cations
and anions move through the salt bridge. The
cells to complete the inner circuit as already
mentioned.

Presentation title 11
v) As copper form copper sulphate solution
is deposited on the copper electrode and
sulphate ions migrate to the other side, the
concentration of the copper sulphate
solution decreases the cell operates
consequently the current falls the passage
of time.

vi) Evidently, the weight of the copper rod

will increase while that of zinc rod will
decrease as the cell works.

Presentation title 12
13