Electrochemistry Galvanic Cell

Lalog, Adrian D., Manalo, Micah M., Manipol, Erwin T., Mendoza, Hannah Daphne M.,
Mojica, Victoria Leonesse O.
Group 5 2B BIOCHEMISTRY, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University
of Sto. Tomas

ABSTRACT
Electrochemistry is the study of electricity and how it relates to chemical reactions. Electricity can be
generated by movements of electrons from one element to another in a reaction known as redox
reaction. A typical galvanic cell consist of two pieces of metal , one zinc and the other copper, each
immersed in a solution containing a dissolved salt of the corresponding metal. The objectives of this
experiment was to be able to construct a successful galvanic cell and determine the spontaneity of redox
reactions based on standard reduction potential. For the galvanic cell, 10 ml of 1M CuSO 4 and 1M ZnSO4
that is prepared in a test tube was used in the experiment. Both test tube was connected by a KCl salt
bridge and the voltage was recorded. As for the lead storage cell, lead strips immersed in conc. H 2SO4
were charged. The voltage was then recorded. The results obtained from the experiment indicated the
spontaneity of the redox reactions, showing that the least spontaneous is that the copper half while the
most spontaneous is that the Zn half-cell.

INTRODUCTION
Electrochemistry is the study of
electricity and how it relates to chemical
reactions. In electrochemistry, electricity
can be generated by movements of
electrons from one element to another in
a reaction known as redox reaction or
oxidation-reduction reaction.
It is physically impossible to measure
the potential difference between a piece of
metal and a solution in which it is
immersed.
However,
measuring
the
difference between the potentials of two
electrodes that dip into the same solution
or are in two different solution is more
possible. In the latter case, each
electrode-solution pair constitutes an
oxidation-reduction half-cell, and we are
measuring the sum of the two half-cell
potentials.
A typical galvanic cell might consist of
two pieces of metal, one zinc and the
other copper, each immersed in a solution
containing a dissolved salt of the
corresponding metal. The two solutions
are separated by a porous barrier that
prevents them from mixing but allows ions
to diffuse through.
If we connect the zinc and copper by
means of a metallic conductor, the excess
electrons that remain Zn2+ ions emerge

from the zinc in the left cell would be able

to flow through the external circuit and
into the right electrode, where they could
be delivered to the Cu2+ ions which
become discharged, that is, converted into
Cu atoms at the surface of the copper
electrode. The net reaction is the
oxidation of zinc by copper (II) ions:
Zn(s) + Cu2+
Zn2+ + Cu(s)
but this time, the oxidation and reduction
steps (half reactions) take place in
separate locations:
Left electrode: Zn(s)
Zn2+ + 2eOxidation
Right electrode: Cu2+ + 2eCu(s)
Reduction
The objective of this experiment is to be
able to construct a successful galvanic cell
and determine the spontaneity of redox
reactions based on standard reduction
potential.

EXPERIMENTAL
A. THE DRY CELL
An AA battery was obtain. The
metal casing was removed and cut
it into three strips. This will be
used for the succeeding part of the
experiment.

B. PREPARING
BRIDGE

THE

SALT

An 8-inch soft glass tube was

obtained. The tube were bent with
flame to form a U-tube. Filled it
with saturated KCl and plugged
both ends with cotton. Make sure
that there are no air gaps
(bubbles) inside the tubing when it
is inverted, and that the cotton will
not fall off.

then plugged to a power outlet.

The battery was charged for 5
minutes. The DC adaptor were
then disconnected and the lead
was connected to a voltmeter. The
voltage were recorded.

C. THE GALVANIC CELL

10 ml of 1M CuSO4 and 1M ZnS04
was prepared into two different
test
tubes.
The
wires
were
scratched to expose the copper.
The wires were connected into a
voltmeter. The Cu wire and Zn strip
were then immersed into CuSO4
and ZnSO4 solution respectively.
Both test tubes were connected
with salt bridge. The range were
then set to voltage. The voltage
was then recorded. The metal
electrodes were detached from the
voltmeter and attached them to a
LED bulb. The bulb were observed
if it will light up.

Figure 2. Lead Storage Battery

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Data of Voltage in a
Galvanic Cell
Trial
Voltage
Current
1
1.032 V
0.01
2
0.966 V
0.00
3
1.026 V
0.01

xx :

1.032 V +0.966 V +1.026 V

3

1.008V
sd:

1.0322 +0.9662 +1.0262

2

0.05161
Figure 1. Galvanic Cell

D. LEAD STORAGE CELL

Two lead strips were cut. One
strip were labeled as (+) and the
other as (-). The strips were bent
and attached to a 100-ml beaker.
20 ml of conc. H2SO4 were then
poured into the beaker. The lead
attached
to
their
respective
terminal in a DC adaptor. The
voltage was then set to 9V and

rsd:

0.05161
100
1.008V

5.120
%difference:

1.200 V 1.008V
100
1.200 V

16
Table 2. Voltage Reading in a
Lead Storage Cell

Voltage
Run-Time
Reading
O minute
0.00V
0.00 sec
5 minutes
0.232V
0.00 sec
15 minutes
1.056V
0.63 sec
Table 2 shows that as charging time
increases, the voltage and run-time
increases too.

REFERENCES:
1. http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Core/
Analytical_Chemistry/Electrochemis
try

2. http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Textb
ook_Maps/General_Chemistry_Text
book_Maps/Map
%3A_Chem1_(Lower)/24%3A_Elec
trochemistry/24.2%3A_Galvanic_c
ells_and_electrodes
3. http://www.uccs.edu/Documents/c
hemistry/nsf/106%20Expt9VGalvanicCell.pdf