ELECTROCHEMISTRY

Electrochemical Cell

Electochemistry studies the relationship between electricity and chemical reaction.

Eelectrochemical process are REDOX reactions in which the energy release by a spontaneous
reaction is converted to electricity.

Chemical reaction electricity

REDOX Reaction

REDUCTION OXIDATION

- Gain of electron - Loss of electron

- Oxidation number decrease - Oxidation number increase

- Reaction at cathode - Reaction at anode

- Example: - Example:

Cu2+ + 2e- Cu Mg Mg2+ + 2e-

Reactions in electrochemical voltaic/ galvanic cell

• Electrochemical cell:

The experimental apparatus for generating electricity through the use of the
spontaneous redox reaction.

Chemical energy Electrical energy

• An electrochemical cell is sometimes referred to galvanic cell or voltaic cell

• Each electrochemical cell is made up of two half cells, each made up of metal
(electrode) dipped into an aqueous solution of its ions (electrolyte) in a container.

• Electrode - solid conductors that allow electrons to pass through.

• Electrolyte – compounds (ionic compounds) that conduct electric currents either in the
molten state or in aqueous solution.
Example of electrochemical cell:

UNIQUE FEATURE OF THIS ACTIVITY

• Students are able to visualize the reaction occur and the effect formed between half cell to the
another cell.
• Students are able to determine the types of redox reaction of the electrode by using computer
simulation.
• Students also can try using another metal and solution and visualize what will happen next.
• From the simulation, student can built the reaction involved in the experiment.
 ENGAGE

Based on the figure above:

1. What do you call all these things?

2. Where do you can find these things?

3. What is the function of these things?

 EMPOWER

Electrochemical cells consists of:

• Electrode

• Electrolyte

• Salt bridge

• Voltmeter

It will convert chemical energy to produce electricity.

Log on the web side and observe the animation to answer the question.

http://www.chem.iastate.edu/group/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/simDownload/ElectroC
hem/voltaicCell20.zip
Result

Question

1. Which species os oxidized agent?

2. Which species is the reducing agent?

3. What element is oxidized?

4. What element is reduced?

 5. What element serves as the anode and cathode?

6. Element that are very reactive reducing agent is belong to group?why?

7. What is the function of salt bridge?

Answer :

1. Silver electrode

2. Zinc electrode

3. Zinc electrode

4. Silver electrode

5. Anode : Zinc

Cathode : Silver

6. Group 1, because all metal have low ionization energies and are relatively
electropositive, and so they can lose electrons fairly easily.

7. Salt bridge helps to maintain electrical neutrality and complete the circuit by allowing
ions carrying charge to move from one half cell to the other.

ENHANCE

1. Write the line notation for the cell shown in the figure below.
Answer:

The cell is based on the following half-reactions.

Oxidation: Zn Zn2+ + 2 e-
Reduction: 2 H+ + 2 e- H2

Since we list the reactants before the products in a half-cell, we write the following line
notation for the anode.

anode: Zn | Zn2+(1.0 M)

The line notation for the cathode has to indicate that H+ ions are reduced to H2 gas on a
platinum metal surface. This can be done as follows.

cathode: H+(1.0 M) | H2(1 atm) | Pt

Since line notation is read in the direction in which electrons flow, we place the notation for
the anode before the cathode, as follows.

Zn | Zn2+(1.0 M) || H+(1.0 M) | H2(1 atm) | Pt

anode cathode

2. i) Label the voltaic cell using the list of items below:

cathode, anode, salt bridge, (+), (-), reduction, oxidation
 ii) What happens at zinc electrode?
iii) What happens at copper electrode?
iv) What happened if there is no salt bridge?
v) Calculate its cell potential.
Answers:
i)

Note: cathode and (+) are interchangeable

anode and (-) are interchangeable

ii) - Zins is more elctropositive than copper. So, tendency to release electrons : Zn ˃ Cu.

Zn (s) Zn 2+ (aq) + 2e-

- Zn dissolves. Oxidation occurs at the Zn electrode.

- Zn2+ ions enter ZnSO4 solution.

- Zn is the –ve electrode since it is a source of electrons anode

iii) - The electron from the Zn metal moves out through the wire enter the Cu metal.
 - Cu2+ ions from the solution accept electrons.

Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- Cu (s)

- Copper is deposited. Reduction occurs at the Cu electrode.

- Cu is the +ve electrode cathode

iv) When there is no salt bridge, as the zinc rod dissolves, the concentration of Zn2+ in the
right beaker is increase. The reaction stops because the nett increase in positive charge is not
neutralized. This excess charge build-up can be reduced by adding a salt bridge.

v) Cell potential (E° cell) = E° cathode - E° anode

= + 0.34 – (-0.76)

= + 1.10 V