Numericals On Nernst Equation

Q1) Calculate the electrode potential of Cu, if the conc. of CuSO4

is 0.206 M at 23.1°C. Given that E°Cu2+ | Cu = 0.34 V.
Given: Cu2+ + 2e- Cu , n = 2
Conc. of CuSO4 = 0.206 M
Temp. = 23.1°C = 273 + 23.1 = 296.1K
According to Nernst equation,
ECu2+ | Cu = E°Cu2+ | Cu - 2.303 RT log 1
nF [Cu 2+ ]
= 0.34 – 2.303 x 8.314 x 296.1 log 1
2 x 96500 0.206
= 0.34 – 0.0294 log 1
0.206
= 0.34 + 0.0294 log 0.206
= 0.34 + 0.0294 ( - 0.686 )
= 0.34 + ( - 0.020)
= 0.34 – 0.020
ECu2+ | Cu = 0.32 V Chapter18 p
 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q2) Calculate the emf of a Daniel cell at 25°C when the conc. of
ZnSO4 and CuSO4 are 0.001 M and 0.01 M respectively. The
standard potential of the cell is 1.1 V.
Given: n=2
Conc. of ZnSO4 = 0.001 M, Conc. of CuSO4 = 0.01M
Temp. = 25°C = 273 + 25 = 298K
According to Nernst equation,
ECell = E°Cell - 2.303 RT log [Zn2+]
nF [Cu 2+ ]
= 1.1 – 2.303 x 8.314 x 298 log 0.001
2 x 96500 0.01
= 1.1 – 0.02956 log 0.1
= 1.1 - 0.02956 x (- 1)
= 1.1 + 0.02956
ECell = 1.12956 V

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 or
ECell = E°Cell - 0.0591 log [Zn2+]
n [Cu 2+ ]
= 1.1 – 0.0591 log 0.001
2 0.01
= 1.1 – 0.02955 log 0.1
= 1.1 - 0.02955 x (- 1)
= 1.1 + 0.02955
ECell = 1.12955 V

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 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q3) A Zn rod is placed in a 0.1M solution of ZnSO 4 at 25°C. Calculate the
potential of the electrode at this temp. assuming 96% dissociation of
ZnSO4 and E°Zn2+ | Zn = - 0.76 V.
Given: Zn2+ + 2e- Zn , n = 2
Conc. of ZnSO4 = 0.1M ,
Conc. of Zn2+ with 96% dissociation= 0.1 x 96/100 = 96 x 10-3 M
Temp. = 25°C = 273 + 25 = 298K
According to Nernst equation,
E = E° - RT ln 1
nF [Zn 2+ ]
= - 0.76 – 8.314 x 298 ln 1
2 x 96500 96 x 10 -3
= - 0.76 – 0.01283 ln 1
96 x 10 -3
= - 0.76 + 0.01283 log 96 x 10 -3
= - 0.76 + 0.01283 ( - 1.0177 )
= - 0.76 + ( - 0.01305)
= - 0.76 – 0.01305
E = - 0.773 V Chapter18 p
 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q4) Calculate the potential of the following electrochemical cell at 25°C.
Cu(s) | Cu2+ (aq)(0.5M) || H+ (aq)(0.01M) | H2 (0.95 atm) ; Pt
E°cathode = 0.00 V and E°anode = 0.34 V
Solution:
Standard emf of the cell is given by,
E°cell = E°cathode - E°anode
E°cell = E°H2 - E°Cu
= 0.00 - 0.34
E°Cell = - 0.34 V
Over all reaction:
Cu (s) + 2H+ (aq) Cu2+ (aq) + H2 (g)

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 Numericals On Nernst Equation

The potential of the electrochemical cell at 25°C I given by,

ECell = E°Cell - 0.0591 log [Cu2+ ] [ H2]
n [H + ]2
= - 0.34 – 0.0591 log [0.5] [0.95]
2 [ 0.01] 2
= - 0.34 – 0.02955 log [ 0.475]
[0.0001]
= - 0.34 - 0.02955 log (4750)
= - 0.34 - 0.02955 (3.6766)
= - 0.34 – 0.1086
ECell = - 0.449 V

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 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q5) Calculate the standard electrode potential of Pb electrode, if
the electrode potential is – 0.18025 V at 301 K and a conc. of
Pb2+ solution is 0.0096 M.
Given: Pb2+ + 2e- Pb , n = 2
Conc. of Pb2+ = 0.0096 M
Temp. = 301K , EPb2+ | Pb = - 0.18025
According to Nernst equation,
EPb2+ | Pb = E°Pb2+ | Pb - 2.303 RT log 1
nF [Pb 2+ ]
E°Pb2+ | Pb = - 0.18025 + 2.303 x 8.314 x 301 log 1
2 x 96500 0.0096
= - 0.18025 + 0.02986 log10 (- 0.0096)
= - 0.18025 + 0.02986 (- 2.0177)
= - 0.18025 + 0.060248
E°Pb2+ | Pb = - 0.1200 V

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 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q6) Calculate the standard electrode potential of Cu | Cu2+ if the
electrode potential at 25°C is 0.296 V when the conc. of Cu ions
is 0.015 M.
Given: Cu2+ + 2e- Cu(s)
According to Nernst equation,
E = E° - 0.0591 log 1
n [Cu 2+ ]
Or E = E° + 0.0591 log [Cu2+ ]
n
E = E° + 0.0591 log [Cu2+ ]
2
E = E° + 0.0296 log [Cu2+ ]
E° = E - 0.0296 log [Cu2+ ]
E° = 0.296 - 0.0296 log [0.015 ]
E° = 0.296 - 0.0296 [- 1.824 ]
E° = 0.296 + 0.054
E° = 0.35 V Chapter18 p
 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q7) Calculate the emf of a Daniel cell at 25°C with standard
potential of 1.1 V, if conc. of ZnSO4 and CuSO4 are 0.002 M and
0.2 M respectively.
Given: n = 2
Conc. of ZnSO4 = 0.002 M, Conc. of CuSO4 = 0.2M
Temp. = 25°C = 273 + 25 = 298K
According to Nernst equation,
ECell = E°Cell - 0.0591 log [Zn2+ ]
n [Cu 2+ ]
= E°Cell + 0.0591 log [Cu2+ ]
2 [Zn 2+ ]
= 1.1 + 0.02955 log 0.2
0.002
= 1.1 + 0.02955 log (100 )
= 1.1 + 0.02955 x 2
= 1.1 + 0.0591 Ecell = 1.1591 V
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 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q8) Calculate the reduction potential of Cu electrode if it is in
contact with 0.6 M CuSO4 solution at 298 K. (E° of Cu = 0.34) .
Given:
According to Nernst equation,
E = E° - 0.0591 log 1
n [Cu 2+ ]
Or E = E° + 0.0591 log [Cu2+ ]
n
E = E° + 0.0591 log [Cu2+ ]
2
E = E° + 0.0296 log [Cu2+ ]
E = 0.34 + 0.0296 log [0.6 ]
E = 0.34 + 0.0296 [ - 0.2218 ]
E = 0.34 - 0.00657
E = 0.3334 V

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 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q9) Calculate the voltage of below cell, if E° is 1.98 V.
Mg(s) | Mg2+ (aq)(1M) || Cd2+ (aq)(7x 10-11M) | Cd
Solution:
At anode: Mg Mg2+ + 2e-
At cathode: Cd2+ + 2e- Cd
Net Reaction: Mg + Cd2+ Mg2+ + Cd
ECell = E°Cell - 0.0591 log [Mg2+ ]
n [Cd 2+ ]
= E°Cell + 0.0591 log [Cd2+ ]
2 [Mg 2+ ]
= 1.98 + 0.02955 log 7 x 10-11
1
= 1.98 + 0.02955 (- 10.1549)
= 1.98 – 0.3
= 1.68 V Chapter18 p
 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q10) Write the electrode reaction and determine the emf of the
following cell at 298 K if E° is 0.47 V.
Cu(s) | Cu2+ (aq)(1x 10-2M) || Ag+ (aq)(1x 10-1M) | Ag
Solution:
At anode: Cu Cu2+ + 2e-
At cathode: 2Ag+ + 2e- 2Ag
Net Reaction: Cu + 2Ag+ Cu2+ + 2Ag
ECell = E°Cell - 0.0591 log [Cu2+ ]
n [Ag + ]2
= 0.47 - 0.0591 log [1 x 10-2 ]
2 [1 x 10 -1 ]2
= 0.47 - 0.02955 log 0.01
0.01
= 0.47 - 0.02955 log 1
= 0.47 – 0 = 0.47 V Chapter18 p
 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q11) Determine the conc. of Cd2+ ions in the following electrochemical
cell , assuming that activities equal concs. Given that emf of the cell,
Ecell = - 0.02 V and E°Cell = 0.04 V at 25°C.
Fe(s) | Fe2+ (aq)(0.1M) || Cd2+ (aq)(x M) | Cd
Solution:
Net Reaction: Fe(s) + Cd2+ Fe2+ + Cd(s)
Ecell = E°Cell - 0.0591 log [Fe2+ ]
n [Cd 2+ ]
- 0.02 = 0.04 - 0.0591 log [0.1 ]
2 [x ]
-.0.02 – 0.04 = - 0.02955 log 0.1
x
- 0.06 = - 0.02955 log 0.1 – log x
log x = 0.06 -0.02955 log 0.1
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log x = 0.06 -0.02955 log 0.1
= 0.06 - 0.02955 (-1)
= 0.06 + 0.02955
log x = 0.08955
x = antilog 0.08955
= 0.00093
x = 0.001 M

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Q12) Consider the below cell,
Ag | AgNO3 (0.0093N) || AgNO3( x N) | Ag
The emf of the above cell is 0.086 V at 25°C.Determine the conc. of x.

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 Numericals On Nernst Equation
Q12) Consider the below cell
Ag | AgNO3 (0.0093N) || AgNO3( x N) | Ag
The emf of the above cell is 0.086 V at 25°C.Determine the conc. of x.
Solution:
Net Reaction: Ag+(aq) + e- Ag(s)
Ecell = E°Cell - 0.0591 log [Ag+ ]
n [Ag + ]
0.086 = 0.04 - 0.0591 log [0.0093 ]
2 [x ]
0.086 – 0.04 = - 0.02955 log 0.01
x
0.046 = - 0.02955 log 0.01 – log x
log x = - 0.046 -0.02955 log 0.01

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log x = - 0.046 -0.02955 log 0.01
= - 0.046 - 0.02955 (-2)
= - 0.046 + 0.0591
log x = 0.0131
x = antilog 0.0131
x = antilog 0.013
= 1.03
x = 1.03 M

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