CHM 432

EXPERIMENT 2: ELECTROCHEMISTRY (ELECTROCHEMICAL AND

THERMODYNAMIC FUNCTIONS)

NAME STUDENT NUMBER

AHMAD FAWWAZ AIMAN BIN AZIZ 2019406284

LECTURER’S NAME:

Dr. NORAINI BINTI HAMZAH

THE DATE OF THE EXPERIMENT: 14/4/2020

THE DATE THE LABORATORY REPORT WAS PREPARED: 15/4/2020

EXPERIMENT 2 : Electrochemistry (Electrochemical cell and Thermodynamic functions)

Objective : 1) to set up electrochemical cells

2) to learn the net cell potentials for three electrochemical cells

3) to figure the net cell potentials of the half-reactions that occur and to compare

experimental and calculated value

4) to compute the Gibbs energy based on the cell potential.

Procedure :

A filter paper was dipped in 0.5 M KNO3 solution to make a salt bridge for this experiment.

A. Part A : Constructing the zinc-copper electrochemical cell

Two cleaned test tubes was filled to ¾ full with 0.1 M ZnSO 4 and 0.2 M CuSO4 solution
respectively in each test tubes. The strips of zinc and copper was cleaned using the steel
wool. The copper strip was clipped using an aligator strip to the voltmeter. This procedure
was applied to the zinc strip also. Both strip was then dipped inside the test tube that
contain CuSO4 solution for copper strip and ZnSO 4 for zinc strip. The salt bridge was placed
between the test tube to complete the circuit. The reading of the voltage was recorded for
three times. Lastly, the anode and the cathode was identified.

B. Part B : Constructing the iron-copper electrochemical cell

0.5 M iron (ii) ammonium sulphate was filled with ¾ full into a cleaned test tube. The strips
of the iron (nails) was cleaned using the steel wool. The nails was connected to one terminal
of the voltmeter. Kept the copper strip in Part(A) for this experiment. The salt bridge was
placed and dipped the metal in their proper solution. The reading of the voltage was
recorded for three times. Lastly, the cathode and anode was determined.

C. Part C : Constructing the iron-zinc electrochemical cell

The iron strip that attached to the voltmeter was kept. The zinc metal in A will replaced te
copper strip in B for this part. The metal was dipped into their proper solution. Three
positive reading was recorded and the cathode and anode was determined.

Data and Calculation :

 Electrolytes Concentration (M)
Zn2+ 0.10
Cu2+ 0.20
Fe2+ 0.50

Cell No. Zinc-copper cell Iron-copper cell Iron-zinc cell

Cell notation Zn/Zn2+//Cu2+/Cu Fe/Fe2+//Cu2+/Cu Zn/Zn2+//Fe2+/Fe
Ecell 1. 1.06 V 1. 0.58 V 1. 0.48 V
2. 1.06 V 2. 0.57 V 2. 0.48 V
3. 1.05 V 3. 0.57 V 3. 0.48 V
Average Ecell 1.06 V 0.57 V 0.48 V
T (K) 305 305 305
∆G -204.58 kJ -110.01 kJ -92.64 kJ
1. a)

Part I

Part II

Part III
b) Part I : Zn/Zn2+//Cu2+/Cu
Part II : Fe/Fe2+//Cu2+/Cu
Part III : Zn/Zn2+//Fe2+/Fe

c) i. Part A
anode : Zn(s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e
cathode :Cu2+ (aq) + 2e → Cu(s)
overall :Zn(s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu(s)

E ֯cell = E ֯cathode - E ֯anode

E ֯cell = 0.34 – (-0.76)
E c֯ ell = 1.1 V

Q = ¿¿
[ 0.10 ]
Q=
[ 0.20 ]
Q = 0.5

0.0592
E cell = E ֯ cell – log Q
n
0.0592
= (1.1) – log (0.5)
2
= 1.09 V

ii. Part B
anode :Fe(s) → Fe2+ (aq) + 2e
cathode :Cu2+ (aq) + 2e → Cu(s)
overall :Fe(s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Fe2+ (aq) + Cu(s)

E ֯cell = E ֯cathode - E ֯anode

E ֯cell = 0.34 – (-0.45)
E c֯ ell = 0.78 V
Q = ¿¿
[ 0.50 ]
Q=
[ 0.20 ]
Q = 2.5

0.0592
E cell = E ֯ cell – log Q
n
0.0592
= (0.78) – log (2.5)
2
= 0.77 V

iii. Part C
anode : Zn(s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e
cathode :Fe2+ (aq) + 2e → Fe(s)
overall :Zn(s) + Fe2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Fe(s)

E ֯cell = E ֯cathode - E ֯anode

E ֯cell = -0.45 – (-0.76)
E ֯cell = 0.31 V

Q = ¿¿
[ 0.10 ]
Q=
[ 0.50 ]
Q = 0.2

0.0592
E cell = E ֯ cell – log Q
n
0.0592
= (0.31) – log (0.2)
2
= 0.33 V

d) i. Part A

ΔG = - nFEcell
= - (2) (96500) (1.09)
= -2.10 x 105 J/mol

ii. Part B

ΔG = - nFEcell
= - (2) (96500) (0.77)
= -1.48 x 105 J/mol

iii. Part C

ΔG = - nFEcell
= - (2) (96500) (0.31)
 = -5.98 x 104 J/mol

e) i. Part A
∆G ֯ = -RT ln K
K = 1.6 × 1035

ii. Part B
∆G ֯ = -RT ln K
K = 6.90 × 1018
ii. Part C
∆G ֯ = -RT ln K
K = 7.35 × 1015

2. i. Part A
Percentage error % = (1.09 – 1.06 / 1.09) x 100
= 2.75%

ii. Part B
Percentage error % = (0.77 – 0.57/ 0.77) x 100
= 25.97%

iii. Part C
Percentage error % = (0.33 – 0.48/ 0.33) x 100
= 45.45%

The possible error during calculate the cell potential is the concentration and the
temperature does not fixed at all. This can cause the data we calculated is not precise due of
cell potential is depend on the concentration and the temperature.
Discussion :

Through the complete cell diagram, the anode and cathode for the experiments have been
determined based on the reading of the voltmeter itself. Anode is the electrode that undergoes
oxidation while cathode is the electrode that undergo reduction. In Part I, the anode is zinc while the
cathode is copper. Its standard cell potential is 1.1 V while its ΔG is –204.58 kJ. From these two
readings, Keq obtained is 1.6 × 1035. In Part II, the anode is iron and the cathode is copper. The
standard cell potential is 0.78 V while the Gibbs energy, ΔG is –110.01 kJ. From the standard cell
potential and ΔG readings, its Keq is 6.90 x 10 18. Meanwhile in Part III, the cathode is iron while the
anode is zinc. Its standard cell potential and ΔG are 0.33 V and –92.64 kJ respectively. From that, the
Keq calculated is 7.35 × 1015.

Based on each percentage error for standard cell potential , only Part I that has a lower percentage
error which is 2.75%. This shows that the experimental value and theoretical value are compatible
with each other. For Part II and Part III are 29.7% and 45.45% respectively show that the
experimental values are not satisfied with the theoretical value. It might have error such as the
electrode is not completely cleaned or the clip also was inserted in the solution unintentionally.
When taking the solution, it must be used wisely since the solution is expensive and need to be
shared with other students to prevent waste. The zinc, copper, and iron used must be cleaned
properly to avoid any disturbance in the reading. Then, when calculating Keq, use the temperature
taken during the experiment (305K). The clip is ensured not to be dipped inside the solution to avoid
any error in reading and the thermometer must not touch the surface of the beaker to prevent
misreading.

Answer for Questions :

1. Salt bridge function is to maintain charge balance because the electrons are moving
from one-half to other. Salt bridge also complete the circuit.
2. Anode : Mg (s) Mg2+ (aq) + 2e
2+
Cathode : Ni (aq) + 2e Ni (s)
2+
Overall : Mg (s) + Ni (aq) Mg2+ (aq) + Ni (s)

E ֯cell = E ֯cathode - E ֯anode

E ֯cell = -0.26 – (-2.37)
E ֯cell = 2.11 V

3. Q = 1
Ecell = E ֯cell – (0.0592/2)log(1)
Ecell = 2.11 V

4. When E ֯cell is positive, it means cell reaction is spontaneous in forward reaction and if E
c֯ ell is negative, the cell reaction is non-spontaneous in forward reaction. This is because,
 ΔG = - nFEcell . So. If E ֯cell is negative, the ΔG is negative also. The negative value indicates
the reaction is non-spontaneous in forward reaction. Vice versa for positive value.

Conclusion :

The electrochemical cell have been constructed using apparatus given. The net cell potential for the
experimental was obtained which are 1.06 V, 0.57 V, and 0.48 V respectively. The net potential
based on the half reaction that occur was calculated. The Gibbs Energy based on the cell potential
was measured.

References :

Beran, J.A. (2009). Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry, 8th Edition. NJ: John Wiley
& Sons.

Hein, M., Best, L. R., Miner, R. L. (2006). Foundations of Chemistry in the Laboratory, 12 th Edition.
John Wiley.

Nelson, J. H., Kemp, K. C. (2005). Chemistry the Central Science Laboratory Experiments, 10 th Edition.
Prentice Hall.