EXPERIMENT No 3: EMF Determination

ABSTRACT:

To acquire the information needed to complete the designated tables and the necessary
values to respond to the challenge, an experiment was carried out using an EMF
Measurement Simulator. To get the theoretical emf, calculations were made using the cell
potential formulas Ecell and E°cell. The galvanic cell was operated at a concentration of
1 M for the solute under usual conditions. The Cu2/Cu and Ag+/Ag galvanic cells, on the
other hand, were made using changed electrolyte solution concentrations that were
delivered under unusual circumstances. Since it is having an increasing impact on
everyone's daily lives, electrochemistry is a crucial component of civil engineering that
needs to be enhanced. EMF is a type of potential rather than a force.

Introduction:

Nuclear chemistry is a field of study that focuses on the properties and behavior
of atomic nuclei, their reactions, and the application of nuclear energy. It involves the
study of nuclear reactions, the properties of radioactive materials, and the interactions
between radiation and matter. Nuclear chemistry has wide-ranging applications in various
fields, including medicine, energy production, and environmental protection. The use of
nuclear energy has also raised concerns about nuclear waste and nuclearaccidents. The
field of nuclear chemistry continues to be an essential field of study, with research aimed
at developing new technologies and applications while ensuring thesafe handling and
disposal of radioactive materials.

In this experiment about electrochemistry, we determine the electromotive force

(EMF) by measuring the voltage across the cell with a voltmeter. It is the net voltage
between the oxidation and reduction half-reactions that takes place between two redox
half-reactions. The energy needed to move a unit electric charge by an energy source
such a battery, cell, or generator is known as the electromotive force, or emf. It is
described as the difference in potential between two terminals when there is no current
flowing through them, i.e., when there is an open circuit with a positive and a negative
end. The electromotive force is actually a measure of energy rather than a force. One type
of energy is transformed into electrical energy at the source. A generator transforms
mechanical energy, while a battery translates chemical energy

The goal of this experiment was to determine a galvanic cell's standard cell potential. In
addition, we examined the cell potential of a galvanic cell under unusual conditions.
Additionally, the experimental data's percentage error was calculated. In essence, this
study is crucial to the growth and development of electrical technology because humans
are becoming increasingly dependent on electricity.

Methodology

An EMF Measurement Simulator was used in the experiment to get the data
needed to fill in the assigned tables and find the values needed to solve the problem.
There were two parts to the experiment: The first step was to find a galvanic cell's potential
under normal conditions; The second part, on the other hand, was unique due to its
unusual condition. The galvanic cell was operated under standard conditions at a
concentration of 1 M for the solute. On the other hand, the voltmeter's Cu2+/Cu and
Ag+/Ag galvanic cells were constructed by altering the concentrations of electrolyte
solutions and providing them in non-standard conditions.

Calculations utilizing the formulas for cell potential Ecell and E°cell were used to establish
the theoretical emf. The following are Formulas that we used in identifying the standard
and nonstandard conditions

E°cell = E°cathode E°anode formula has been used for the cell potential of the galvanic
cell under standard condition.

Nernst equation E = E°cell – RT nF ln Q has been used for nonstandard conditions.

In addition, the percentage error was calculated by dividing the theoretical data by the
difference between the experimental and theoretical data and then multiplying it by 100.
The theoretical, experimental, and percentage error data derived from the computations
were then presented in tables by the group.

Results and Discussion

This section contains the findings and analysis of the given problems in
electrochemistry. This was divided into two parts: (a) determining a galvanic cell's cell
potential under standard conditions, and (b) determining a galvanic cell's cell potential
under nonstandard conditions. The group was able to determine these solutions to the
problems by using electrochemistry's formulas and principles.

A. Determination of the cell potential of a galvanic cell operating under

nonstandard conditions.

1. Determination of the standard potential of a galvanic cell through a virtual laboratory

experiment.

2. Calculation of the theoretical standard cell potential.

Cu = Copper Ag = Silver

Cu(s) + 2Ag+(aq) --> Cu2+(aq) + 2Ag(s)

Cu(s) -->Cu2+ (aq) +2 → Anode → +0.337 V → oxidation

2Ag+(aq)+2e--->2Ag(s) → Cathode → +0.799 V → reduction

E°cell = E°cathode − E°anode

E° cell=0.799 V−0.337 V

E° cell=0.462 V

3. Calculation for the error percentage of the experimental data.

%error= Theoretical Data−Experimental Data ×100

Theoretical Data

%error= 0.475−0.460 ×100

0.475V

%error= 3.15789474 %

%error= 3.15%

Table 1. Data of the value of the theoretical emf, experimental emf and percentage
error of the cell potential under standard condition.

Theoretical emf Experimental emf Percentage error

0.475V -0.460V 3.15%
B. Determination of the cell potential of a galvanic cell operating under
nonstandard conditions

1. Determination of the cell potential of a galvanic cell operating under nonstandard

conditions utilizing an EMF Measurements Simulator.

Cu = Copper Ag = Silver

Cu(s) + 2Ag+(aq) --> Cu2+(aq) + 2Ag(s)

Cu(s) -->Cu2+ (aq) +2 → Anode → +0.337 → oxidation

2Ag+(aq)+2e--->2Ag(s) → Cathode → +0.799 → reduction

E°cell = E°cathode − E°anode

E° cell=0.799−0.337
E° cell=0.462

E = E°cell 𝑅𝑇 ln Q; Where: Q = 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠

𝑛𝐹 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠

R = 8.314 J/mol-K

n=2

F = 96485 J/mol-V

8.314𝑗
( −𝑘)(298.15𝑘) 5
E = 0.462V - ( 𝑚𝑜𝑙
9648 ) ln (22 )
(2)( −𝑣)
𝑚𝑜𝑙

2478.8191/𝑚𝑜𝑙 5
E = 0.462V – ( 192970 ) ln( 22 )
−𝑣
𝑚𝑜𝑙

E = 0.459 V

3. Calculation for the percentage error of the experimental data.

%error= Theoretical Data−Experimental Data ×100

Theoretical Data

%error= 0.459V−0.489V ×100

0.459V

%error=-6.53594771 %

%error=6.53%

Theoretical emf Experimental emf Percentage Error

0.459 V 0.489 V 6.53%