Unit 5 REVIEW

Understanding Concepts (e) List three other examples of ions that can behave
in the same way as the copper(I) ion. (9.2)
1. Write theoretical definitions for the following terms,
using both oxidation states and electron transfer. 7. The gold(I) ion is unstable in aqueous solution,
(a) reduction reacting as shown in the following unbalanced equa-
(b) oxidation tion. Use oxidation numbers to balance the equation.
(c) redox reaction (9.1) Au 
(aq)  H2O(l) → Au2O3(s)  Au(s)  H(aq) (9.2)
2. Are there chemical reactions that are not redox reac-
tions? How can you recognize these? Provide some 8. Iodide ion can be oxidized to iodate ion by the reac-
examples. (9.1) tion with elemental chlorine in an acidic solution.
3. What is the oxidation number of sulfur in each of the Write balanced equations for the
following substances? (a) oxidation reaction.
(a) H2S(g) (b) reduction reaction.
(b) H2SO3(aq) (c) overall reaction. (9.2)
(c) H2SO4(aq) 9. Balance the following equations:
(d) SO2(g) (a) Ni(s)  H2SO4(aq) →
(e) S8(s) (9.1) NiSO4(aq)  H2O(l)  SO2(g) (acidic)
(b) I2(s)  NO3 
(aq) → IO3(aq)  NO2(g) (acidic)
4. Identify the oxidation number for each atom/ion and

(c) Cr2O72(aq)  Cl (aq) → Cr(aq)  Cl2(g) (acidic)
3
indicate which is oxidized and which is reduced.
(d) Zn(s)  H2SO4(aq) →
(aq)  Co(s) → Sn(aq)  Co(aq)
(a) Sn4 2 2
ZnSO4(aq)  H2S(g)  H2O(l) (acidic)
(aq)  Zn(s) → Fe(aq)  Zn(aq)
(b) Fe3 2 2
(e) I2(s) → I 
(aq)  IO3 (aq) (basic) (9.2)
(c) Cl2(aq)  I(aq) → Cl(aq)  I2(s)
  10. Chromium steel alloys are analyzed using a series of
(d) C2O42 (aq)  MnO4 (aq)  H(aq) →
CO2(g)  Mn(aq)  H2O(l)
2 redox reactions. The alloy is initially reacted with per-
 chloric acid that converts the chromium metal into
(e) Cl2(g)  SO32 (aq)  OH (aq) →
 dichromate ions while the perchloric acid is reduced
Cl (aq)  SO4(aq)  H2O(l)
2 (9.1)
to chlorine gas. The dichromate ions are then reduced
5. Balance the equation for each of the following reac- to chromium(III) ions by adding an excess of iron(II)
tions by constructing and labelling equations for the solution. The unreacted iron(II) is then titrated with
oxidation and reduction half-reactions. a solution of cerium(IV) ions, which reduces them to
(aq)  SO2(aq) → SO4(aq)  Au(s) (acidic)
2
(a) Au3 cerium(III) ions. Write equations for the half-
(b) Ag(s)  NO3 
(aq) → Ag(aq)  NO(g) (acidic) reactions and the balanced redox equation for
 → Zn(OH) 2  Br (basic)
(c) Zn(s)  BrO4(aq) each step. (9.2)
4(aq) (aq)
(d) ClO(aq) → ClO2 (aq)  Cl2(g) (basic) 11. When a spontaneous redox reaction occurs, what
 
(e) S2O32(aq)  OCl (aq) → S4O6(aq)  Cl (aq) (acidic)
2 kinds of evidence might be observed? (9.3)
(9.2) 12. Predict whether a spontaneous redox reaction will
6. The copper(I) ion undergoes the following reaction occur in the following situations:
in aqueous solution… (a) A copper penny is dropped into hydrochloric
acid.
Cu
(aq) → Cu(s)  Cu (aq)
2
(b) A nickel is dropped into nitric acid.
(c) A silver earring is dropped into sulfuric acid. (9.3)
(a) State the oxidation number of each species in the
13. For each of the following mixtures, list and classify
equation.
the entities present, predict the half-reaction and net
(b) Write a balanced equation for the oxidation
ionic reaction equations, and predict whether or not a
process.
spontaneous reaction will be observed.
(c) Write a balanced equation for the reduction
(a) Chlorine gas is bubbled into an iron(II) sulfate
process.
solution.
(d) Complete the balancing of the net equation.

766 Unit 5 NEL

 Unit 5

(b) Nickel(II) nitrate solution is mixed with a tin(II)
sulfate solution.
(c) A zinc coating on a drainpipe is exposed to air
and water.
(d) An acidic solution of sodium sulfate is spilled on
a steel laboratory stand. (Consider only the iron
in the steel.)
(e) For use in a titration, a sodium hydroxide solu-
tion is added to a potassium sulfite solution to
make it basic. (9.3)
14. What are two technological solutions to the problem
of batteries “going dead”? (9.4)
15. From the information in this unit, list two or three
examples of situations in which technology preceded
scientific explanations. (9.4)
16. Rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries
have twice the energy density of Ni-Cd batteries and a
similar operating voltage (Figure 1). The NiMH bat-
tery makes use of alloys that are capable of absorbing
hydrogen equivalent to a thousand times their own
(a) Write balanced equations for the anode, cathode,
and net reactions occurring during the operation
of an NiMH cell.
(b) Calculate the cell potential.
(c) List some of the technological, economic, and
environmental considerations involved in
evaluating the NiMH battery. (9.4)
17. A lead-cobalt standard cell is constructed and tested.
(a) Predict which electrode will be the cathode and
which one will be the anode.
(b) List all entities present, write the half-cell and net
cell reaction equations, and calculate the cell
potential.
(c) Sketch and label a cell diagram. Specify all
substances, label important cell components,
and show the directions of electron and ion
movement. (9.5)
18. Predict the cell potential of the following cells at stan-
dard conditions.
(a) Cd(s)  Cd2
(aq)  Cr(aq)  Cr(s)
2

volume and then releasing the absorbed hydrogen as (b) Pb(s)  Pb(aq)  Zn(aq)  Zn(s)
2 2

(c) C(s)  Cr2O72 

the battery operates. The cells in NiMH batteries use
NiO(OH)(s) as one electrode, a hydrogen-absorbing
alloy as the other, and an alkaline electrolyte. In the
following reduction half-equations, M indicates a
hydrogen-absorbing alloy and Hab indicates absorbed
hydrogen.
(aq), H(aq)  Cr(aq)  Co(aq)  Co(s) (9.5)
3 2
19. An experiment is designed to determine the identity
of a half-cell by using known half-cells and measuring
the potential difference.
(a) Use the evidence gathered to determine the
reduction potential and the identity of the
unknown X2 (aq)  X(s) redox pair.

(aq)  X(s) → Cu(s)  X (aq)

Cu 2 E °  0.48 V
2

(b) What is the significance of a negative value for

the reduction potential obtained? (9.5)
20. Given the potential of the following standard cell,
predict the standard reduction potential of the
neodymium(III) ion. (9.5)

Cd(s)  Cd 2
(aq)  Nd(aq)  Nd(s)
3 E°  1.85 V

21. Silver, gold, and platinum are referred to as precious

metals. What chemical properties do these metals
have that contribute to making them precious? (9.6)
22. Pure silver is too soft for most jewellery but has the
advantage of being relatively corrosion-resistant.
Figure 1 Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
NiO(OH)(s)  H2O(l)  e →
Sterling silver is much more durable than pure silver,

Ni(OH)2(s)  OH(aq) Er°  0.49 V but tarnishes more easily. Using your knowledge of
M(s)  H2O(l)  e → MHab  OH Er°  0.71 V electrochemistry, suggest a reason why sterling silver
(aq)
is more easily corroded than pure silver. (9.6)

NEL Electrochemistry 767

 23. Compare chrome-plated steel, tin-plated steel, and (b) Why couldn’t Davy produce these metals by elec-
galvanized steel in terms of appearance, oxidation of trolyzing aqueous solutions of the compounds?
the plated metal, and protection of the steel from (10.1)
corrosion. (9.6) 29. After successfully electrolyzing molten potash to pro-
24. Explain how an impressed current can be used to pre- duce potassium, Davy used the same experimental
vent the corrosion of a buried steel pipe. (9.6) design to produce several other metals from their
25. Explain why corrosion often occurs in places where compounds. Predict the reactions at the cathode and
two different metals (e.g., copper and iron) are joined anode and the net cell reactions for the electrolysis of
together. (9.6) the following molten compounds (all electrolyzed for
the first time by Davy):
26. Electrochemical cells are very important technolog-
(a) lime, CaO
ical devices in our society. Discuss the main differ-
(b) caustic soda, NaOH
ences between galvanic and electrolytic cells in terms
(c) magnesia, MgO
of their purpose and the chemical reactions that
(d) barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2 (10.1)
occur in them. (10.1)
30. Potassium metal is produced by the electrolysis of the
27. In 1807 Humphry Davy used over 250 metal plates to
mineral sylvite, KCl(s) (Figure 3).
construct the most powerful battery ever built at that
(a) Sketch a diagram
time (Figure 2). When Davy used his battery to run
of a cell that
electric current through molten potash (K2CO3), a
could be used to
globule of silvery metal formed at the cathode. Davy
electrolyze
dropped the newly formed metal into water and wit-
molten potas-
nessed a vigorous reaction that released a colourless
sium chloride.
gas that ignited and burned with a violet flame.
Label electrodes,
(a) Write balanced equations for the half-reaction
electrolyte, power
occurring at the cathode, the reaction of the
supply, and the
metal with water, and the combustion of the Figure 3
directions of the Sylvite makes up about one-
colourless gas.
electron and ion half of potash ore. Most of the
(b) Why did the gas burn with a violet flame? (10.1)
flow. ore is used to make fertilizer.
(b) Write equations for the cathode, anode, and net
reactions for the electrolysis of molten potassium
chloride.
(c) Why can’t the table of relative strengths of oxi-
dizing and reducing agents be used to calculate
the minimum potential difference for this
process? (10.2)
31. Assuming that Davy’s battery produced 1.5 A for
30 min during his experiments, predict the mass of
metal he produced by electrolysis of the following
molten compounds:
(a) strontium oxide
(b) potassium hydroxide (10.3)
32. A student electroplates onto carbon electrodes using
a power supply set at 2.0 A. Predict how long it will
Figure 2 take to produce 1.0 g of metal from each of the
28. Davy was the first person to isolate the metals potas- following electrolytes:
sium, sodium, barium, strontium, calcium, and (a) CuSO4(aq)
magnesium from their molten compounds. (b) AgNO3(aq) (10.3)
(a) Why was it necessary to melt the compounds? 33. Predict the current required to produce 1.00 kg of pure
copper per hour in an electrorefining process. (10.3)

768 Unit 5 NEL


Applying Inquiry Skills
34. While investigating the oxidizing strength of Period 5
metal ions, a research chemist places selected metal
strips into aqueous solutions of their ionic com-
pounds. He observes that the following combinations
of metal and cations react spontaneously:
(aq) → In(aq)  Pd(s)
In(s)  Pd2 3
(aq)  Y(s) → Cd(s)  Y(aq)
Cd2
3
(aq) → Cd(aq)  In(s)
Cd(s)  In3
2
(a) Use the evidence above to develop a table of oxi-
dizing and reducing agents for these metals and
their ions.
(b) Which is the strongest oxidizing agent in the
experiment? Why?
(c) Which is the strongest reducing agent in the
experiment? Why?
(d) Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reac-
tion between a strip of yttrium and an aqueous
solution of palladium(II) nitrate, and predict the
spontaneity of the reaction.
35. Electroplating finishes are often done in layers. For
example, chromium plating does not work well on a
zinc base, so a layer of copper is applied to the zinc
and then a layer of nickel is added before the top
chromium layer is plated on.
(a) Propose a general design of an experiment to
place a final chromium layer onto a galvanized
metal. Include a labelled diagram and general
plan.
(b) In any electroplating, especially layers of metals, a
particular thickness of metal is desired. Outline
the experimental variables and the type of calcu-
lations that need to be done to plan a particular
thickness of a metal plating.
Making Connections
36. Battery technology is a very active area of research.
One proposal that shows some promise is a vanadium
redox flow cell, also known as the All Vanadium
Redox Battery. Describe the general construction of
this battery, including electrodes, electrolytes, porous
boundary, and external tanks. What redox reactions
occur at the electrodes within this cell? List some
NEL
Unit 5
unique aspects of this technology, as well as some
advantages and proposed uses.
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37. The current technology for the manufacture of com-
puter chips uses aluminum interconnects (“wires” or
paths connecting electrical components) on the sil-
icon surface. The next generation of Ultra Large-Scale
Integration (ULSI) chips proposes to use copper in
place of aluminum. Why is copper better than alu-
minum for interconnects? Briefly describe two
electrochemical techniques used to create the copper
interconnects. Include a brief description of the redox
concepts involved in each technique.
38. Road salt is commonly used on Canadian roads,
mostly during the winter months. Recently, this use
has become an issue and Environment Canada is
assessing whether road salt should be classified as a
“toxic substance.” What is “road salt”? Compare
Ontario’s use of road salt with that of other
provinces. Describe some of the benefits of road salt
related to its use, and some environmental and safety
issues, including specific examples related to electro-
chemistry and other areas. What are some alternatives
to the current use of road salt?
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Extensions
39. Describe how to connect car batteries to give
someone a “boost.” Why should the final connection
be made to ground at a distance from both batteries?
40. Most chemical reactions are explained as being either
electron transfer reactions or proton transfer
reactions.
(a) What are the similarities and differences between
electron and proton transfer reactions?
(b) State some evidence for energy changes in both
electron and proton transfer reactions.
(c) Identify a combination of chemicals that might
produce either an electron or a proton transfer
reaction, and describe some diagnostic tests that
could be used to determine which reaction
predominates.
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Electrochemistry 769