Department of Engineering Area of Chemical Engineering

Agricultural Engineering
Year 1
Module: Chemistry 2

TOPIC 3 EXERCISES
1.- The following redox reaction is used in acidic solution in the Breathalyzer test to determine the
level of alcohol in the blood:
H + (ac ) + Cr2 O 72 (ac ) + C 2 H 5 OH (ac ) Cr 3+ (ac ) + C 2 H 4 O (ac ) + H 2 O (l )

(a) Identify the elements undergoing changes in oxidation state and indicate the initial and final
oxidation numbers for these elements; (b) write and balance the reduction half-reaction; (c) write
and balance the oxidation half-reaction; (d) combine the half-reactions to produce a balanced redox
equation.
2.- A basic solution of hypochlorite ions reacts with solid chromium (III) hydroxide to produce
aqueous chromate ions and chloride ions. Write the net ionic equation for the reaction.
3.- Balance each of the following skeletal equations by using oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
Identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agent in each reaction.
(a) Reaction of thiosulphate ion with chlorine gas, in acidic aqueous solution:
Cl 2 (g ) + S 2 O 32 (ac ) Cl (ac ) + SO 24- (ac )

(b) Reaction of elemental phosphorus to form phosphine (PH3), a poisonous gas with the odour of
decaying fish, in basic aqueous solution:
P4 (s ) H 2 PO 2 (ac ) + PH 3 (g )

4.- (a) Write the half-reactions and the balanced equation for the cell reaction for each of the
following galvanic cells. Draw a schematic representation of each cell.
(1)

Ni (s ) Ni 2 + (ac ) Ag + (ac ) Ag (s )

(2)

Pt (s ) O 2 (g ) H + (ac ) OH (ac ) O 2 (g ) Pt (s )

(b) Write the half-reactions and the balanced equation for the cell reaction, and the cell diagram for
each of the following skeletal equations. Draw a schematic representation of each cell.
(1) Mn (s ) + Ti 2+ (ac ) Mn 2+ (ac ) + Ti (s )
(2)

Cu + (ac ) Cu 2 + (ac ) + Cu (s )

5.- A student was given a standard Cu(s)Cu2+(aq) half-cell and another half-cell containing an
unknown metal M immersed in 1 M M(NO3)2(aq). When the copper was connected as the anode at
25 C, the cell potential was found to be -0.689 V. What is the reduction potential for the unknown
M2+/M couple? E(Cu2+/Cu) = +0.34 V.
Answer: -0.349 V
6.- Suppose that each of the following pairs of redox couples is joined to form a galvanic cell that
generates an electric current under standard conditions. Identify the oxidizing agent and the
1

Area of Chemical Engineering

Chemistry 2

reducing agent, write a cell diagram, and calculate the standard cell potential. (a) Co2+/Co and
Ti3+/Ti2+; (b) H+/H2 and Fe3+/Fe2+. E(Co2+/Co) = -0.28 V; E(Ti3+/Ti2+) = -0.37 V; E(H+/H2) = 0 V;
E(Fe3+/Fe2+) = +0.77 V.
Answer: +0.09 V; +0.77 V
7.- Determine the equilibrium constants for the following reactions. E(Ti2+/Ti) = -1.63 V;
E(Mn2+/Mn) = +1.18 V; E(In3+/In2+) = -0.49 V; E(U4+/U3+) = -0.61 V.
2+
2+
(a) Mn (s) + Ti (aq) Mn (aq) + Ti (s)
(b)

+
+
2+
4+
In 3(aq)
+ U 3(aq)
In (aq)
+ U (aq)

Answer: 6.1210-16;1.07 102

8.- Calculate the reaction quotient, Q, for the cell reaction, given the measured values of the cell
potential. Balance the chemical equations by using the smallest whole-number coefficients.
E(Pb4+/Pb2+) = +1.67 V; E(Sn4+/Sn2+) = +0.15 V; E(Cr2O72-,H+/Cr3+) = +1.33 V; E(O2,H+/H2O) =
+1.23 V.
4+
2+
4+
2+
E = +1.33V
(a) Pt (s ) Sn (aq) , Sn (aq) Pb (aq) , Pb (aq) C (gr ) ,
(b)

+
+
3+
Pt (s ) O 2 (g ) H (aq)
Cr2 O 72 (aq) , H (aq)
, Cr(aq)
Pt (s) ,

E = +0.1V
Answer: 2.64106; 1

9.- Make a schematic drawing and determine the potential of each of the following cells. Calculate
the reaction quotient, Q, for the cell reaction. Balance the chemical equations by using the smallest
whole-number coefficients. E(H+/H2) = 0 V; E(Ni2+/Ni) = -0.23 V; E(Zn2+/Zn) = -0.76 V.
(a)

Pt (s ) H 2 (g, 1.0 bar ) HCl (aq, 0.075 M ) HCl (aq, 1.0 M ) H 2 (g, 1.0 bar ) Pt (s )

(b)

Zn (s ) Zn 2+ (aq, 0.37 M ) Ni 2+ (aq, 0.059 M ) Ni (s )

Answer: +0.066 V, 5.62510-3; +0.506 V, 6.271

10.- (a) Calculate the voltage of an electrochemical cell that consists of pure lead immersed in a
510-2 M Pb2+ ion solution and pure tin immersed in a 0.25 M Sn2+ ion solution at 25 C. (b) Write
the equation of the spontaneous electrochemical reaction. E(Sn2+/Sn) = -0.136 V; E(Pb2+/Pb) = 0.126 V.
Answer: -0.011 V; +0.011 V
11.- An electrochemical cell is constituted by pure copper and cadmium electrodes immersed in
aqueous solutions of their respective ions, Cu2+ and Cd2+. When the concentration of Cd2+ is
6.510-2 M, the electrode of cadmium is oxidized and produces a potential of 0.775 V. Calculate the
concentration of Cu2+ ion if the temperature is 25 C. E(Cd2+/Cd) = -0.403 V; E(Cu2+/Cu) = +0.34
V.
Answer: 0.785 M
12.- A tin electrode in 0.015 M Sn(NO3)2(aq) is connected to a hydrogen electrode in which the
pressure is 1 bar. If the cell potential is 0.061 V at 25 C, what is the pH of the electrolyte at the
hydrogen electrode? Make a schematic drawing of the cell.
Answer: 2.25
13.- Consider the cell Ag(s)Ag+(aq,5mM)Ag+(aq,0.15M) Ag(s). Can this cell do work? If so, what is
the maximum work that it can perform (per mole of Ag)?
Answer: yes, 8.43 kJ
2

Area of Chemical Engineering

Chemistry 2

14.- Predict the products resulting from the electrolysis of 1 M AgNO3(aq).

Answer: cathode, Ag; anode, O2

15.- A 1 M NiSO4(aq) solution was electrolyzed by using inert electrodes. Make a schematic drawing
of the cell. Write: (a) the cathode reaction; (b) the anode reaction; (c) with no overpotential or
passivity at the electrodes, what is the minimum potential that must be supplied to the cell for the
onset of electrolysis?
Answer: +1.46 V
16.- Aqueous solutions of (a) Mn2+; (b) Al3+; (c) Ni2+; (d) Au3+ with concentrations of 1 mol L-1 are
electrolyzed at pH = 7. Determine whether the metal ion or water will be reduced at the cathode.
E(H2O/H2,OH-)(pH = 7) = -0.42 V; E(Mn2+/Mn) = -1.18 V; E(Al3+/Al) = -1.66 V; E(Ni2+/Ni) = 0.23 V; E(Au3+/Au) = +1.40 V.
Answer: water; water; Ni2+; Au3+
17.- What amount (in moles) of Al(s) can be produced from Al2O3 if 5 mol e- is supplied?
Answer: 1.7 mol Al

18.- Determine the mass (in grams) of magnesium metal that can be obtained from molten
magnesium chloride, by using a current of 7.3 A for 2.11 h. What volume of chlorine gas at 25 C
and 1 atm will be produced at the anode? M(Mg) = 24 g mol-1; F = 9.65104 C (mol e-)-1.
Answer: 6.89 g; 7.02 L

19.- A total charge of 4.5 kC is passed through an electrolytic cell. Determine the quantity of
substance produced and make a schematic drawing of the cell in each case: (a) the mass (in grams)
of bismuth metal from a bismuth nitrate solution; (b) the volume (in litres at 273 K and 1 atm) of
hydrogen gas from a sulphuric acid solution: (c) the mass of cobalt (in grams) from a cobalt (III)
chloride solution. M(Bi) = 208.98 g mol-1; M(Co) = 58.93 g mol-1; F = 9.65104 C (mol e-)-1.
Answer: 3.25 g; 0.522 L; 0.92 g

20.- Determine the time, in hours, required to electroplate 7 g of magnesium metal from molten
magnesium chloride, by using a current of 7.3 A. M(Mg) = 24 g mol-1; F = 9.65104 C (mol e-)-1.
Answer: 2.14 h

21.- (a) How much time is required to electroplate 1.5 g of silver from a silver nitrate solution by
using a current of 13.6 mA? (b) When the same current is used for the same length of time, what
mass of copper can be electroplated from a copper (II) sulphate solution? M(Ag) = 107.87 g mol-1;
M(Cu) = 63.55 g mol-1; F = 9.65104 C (mol e-)-1.
Answer: 27.4 h; 0.44 g
22.- (a) Suggest two metals that could be used for cathodic protection of a titanium pipeline; (b)
What factors other than relative positions in the electrochemical series need to be considered in
practice? (c) Often copper pipeline is connected to iron pipes in household plumbing systems. What
is a possible effect of the copper on the iron pipes?