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Electrochemistry
1
SCOPE
Oxidation and reduction
Balancingnet ionic equations for
redox reaction in acidic solution
Electrochemical cells
Galvanic cells
Shorthand notation
2
SCOPE
Cell EMF
Standard Reduction Potential
Spontaneity of Redox Reactions
EMF and Free Energy Change
Electrochemical Decomposition
3
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lecture, students should
be able to:
• Identify the oxidizing and reducing agents
in a redox reaction
• Write equations for oxidation and reduction
half-reaction and use them to balance the
net equation.
• Describe galvanic cells
4
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lecture, students should
be able to:
• Draw cell diagram
• Write shorthand notation
• Calculate cell potential
• Calculate ΔG from cell potential
5
4.1 Oxidation and reduction
LEO - Loss Electron Oxidation
GER - Gain Electron Reduction
0 +1 +2 0
0 +1 +2 0
Zn(s) are oxidised (LEO) = cause another substance
to be reduced: H+ is reduced (GER).
Therefore, Zn(s) is a reducing agent and H+(aq) is
an oxidizing agent.
0 +4 -2 +1 -2 +2 -2 +1 +2 -2 +1
Solution
1st: 2 half eq/reactions
Cr2O72-(aq) Cr3+(aq)
Cl-(aq) Cl2(g)
4.2 Balancing net ionic equations
for redox reactions in acidic solution
Solution (cont.)
2nd: balance each half reaction
Cr2O7 2-(aq) 2Cr3+(aq)
Solution (cont.)
Electron flow
Anode Cathode
- +
Porous barrier
Anions or salt bridge
Cations
Example
The following oxidation-reduction is spontaneous:
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6I-(aq) 2Cr3+(aq) + 3I2 + 7H2O(l)
e-
- Salt bridge
+
anion cation
anode cathode
6I- (aq) 3I2 (s) + 6e- Cr2O7 2-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- 2Cr 3+(aq) + 7H2O
4.5 Shorthand Notation
Shorthand notation for describing the
components of an electrochemical cell
e-
Zn Cu
anode Salt bridge cathode
ZnSO4(aq) CuSO4(aq)
E°red = 0 V
PtH2(g)H+(aq) H+(aq)
Pt gauze coated
with Pt black
(To catalyse the reaction)
4.7 Standard Reduction Potential
Oxidation of Zn and reduction of H+
Zn (s) + 2H+ (aq) Zn2+ (aq) + H2 (g)
The Zn2+/Zn electrode is the anode and SHE is the
cathode.
The cell voltage is 0.76 V.
- using the E°red of H+ = 0, the standard reduction
potential E°red for Zn2+/Zn half-reaction.
Solution
E°cell = E°red (cathode) - E°red (anode)
1.10 V = E°red (cathode) - (-0.76 V)
E°red (cathode) = 1.10 V - 0.76 V = 0.34 V
Example
Calculate the E°cell for this reaction.
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6I-(aq) 2Cr3+ + 3I2 + 7H2O
Solution
half-reaction:
Cathode:
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
Anode:
6I-(aq) 3I2(s) + 6e-
Solution
E°red = Cr2O7 2- Cr3+ = 1.33 V
E°red = I2 I- = 0.54 V
Note:
The value of I2 I- is not multiplied by 3.
Intensive property: does not depend on the specific
stoichiometric coefficients.
4.7 Standard Reduction Potential (E°red)
More negative
4.7 Standard Reduction Potential (E°red)
The more positive the E value for a half reaction,
the greater the tendency for the reactant of the
half-reaction to be reduced and therefore to
oxidize another species.
Increasing strength of
oxidizing agent
reducing agent
2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g)
Li+(aq) + e- Li(s)
Most -ve
Strongest reducing
agent
Example
Solution
E° = (1.36 V) - (0.54 V) = 0.82 V
E° is positive - this reaction is spontaneous and could be
used to build a voltaic cell.
4.9 EMF and Free-Energy Change
Gibbs free energy G is a measure of the spontaneity of
a process that occurs at constant temperature and
pressure.
EMF of a redox reaction indicates whether the reaction
is spontaneous.
Relationship exists between emf and the free-energy
change.
G
G == -nFE
-nFE
n = the no. of moles of electrons transferred in the reaction.
F = Faraday constant - quantity of electrical charge of 1 mol electron.
1 F = 96,500 C/mole = 96,500 J/V-mole
*n and F are positive quantities
4.9 EMF and Free-Energy Change
G
G==-nFE
-nFE
E positive leads to a negative G
E positive and G negative indicate that a reaction is
spontaneous.
When both the reactants and products are in their
standard states:
G
Go==-nFE
o o
-nFEo
Solution
Reduction: F2(g) + 2e- + 2F-(aq) E°red = 2.87 V
Oxidation: 2Br-(aq) Br2(l) +2e- E°red = 1.06 V
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4.10 Electrochemical decomposition
The DC source serves as an ‘electron pump’,
pulling electrons away from one electrode and
pushing them through the external wiring onto
the other electrode
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