CMT 555

ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND CORROSION

SCIENCE
EXPERIMENT 1
GALVANIC AND ELECTROLYTIC CELLS

NAME:
1. NAJWA AFIFI BINTI ABDUL WAHAB
2. SITI RAIHAH BINTI MAHAMAD ROZI
3. NURSYAHIRAH BT HALIM
GROUP: RAS2454A
EXPERIMENT DATE: 28 SEPTEMBER 2016
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 12 OCTOBER 2016
LECTURERS NAME: MADAM ZAINI BT YUSOF

2015269928
2015834864
2015829382

EXPERIMET NO:
1
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT:
Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells
OBJECTIVES:
a) To distinguish between galvanic and electrolytic cells.
b) To measure the relative reduction potentials for a number of redox couples in a galvanic
cell
c) To develop an understanding of the movement of electrons, anions, and cations in
galvanic cell.
d) To identify the reaction occurring at the anode and the cathode during the electrolysis of
various aqueous salt solutions.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
A.GALVANIC CELL-REDUCTION POTENTIALS OF SEVERAL REDOX COUPLE
1) Collect the Electrode, Solutions and Equipment
a. Four small beakers were obtained and filled them with 0.1M solution.
b. The strips of copper ,zinc, magnesium, and iron metals was then polished with
emery paper or steel wool, and rinsed briefly with diluted 1M HNO3 and then
rinsed again with deionized water.
c. These polished metals was used as electrode and put in their respective beakers.
2) Set up the Copper/Zinc Cell
a. The Cu strip was placed in the Cu(No3)2 AND Zn strip was placed in Zn(NO3)2.
b. The filter paper was rolled and flattened, wetted with 0.1M KNO3 solution
c. The filter paper then places into the beaker to acts as a salt bridge.
d. The negative cell terminal of the potentiometer was connected by electrode to the
other positive terminal.
3) Determine the Copper / Zinc Cell Potential
a. As the voltmeter reads a negative potentials, then the connections was reversed.
b. The positive cell potential was read and recorded .The anode and cathode metals
strip was determined.
c. An equation for half cell reaction was recorded for each electrode.

d. The half two reactions was combined to write the equation for the cell reaction.
4) Repeat the Remaining Cells
a. The cell potentials for all possible galvanic cell was determined.
b. A new salt bridge was prepared for each galvanic cell.
5) Determine the Relative Reduction Potentials
a. Assuming that the reduction potential of the Zn+ (0.1M) is -0.79V.
B.ELECTROLYTIC CELL-ELECTROLYSIS OF AQEOUS SALT SOLUTIONS
1) Set up Electrolysis Apparatus
a. Two wire lead was connected attached to alligator clips to a direct current
power supply.
b. A glass U-tube was mounted on a ring stand or clamped at retort stand.
c. The alligators clip was connected to the corresponding electrodes.
2) Electrolyze the Solutions
a. The U-tube was filled three-fourth full with a solution and electrolyzed for
5minutes.
3) Account for Observations
a. The equations for the reactions occurring at the anode and cathode for each
cell reaction were written.

Solutions
2g NaCl/100ml
2g NaBr/100ml
0.1M CuSo4
0.1M CuSo4

Electrode
Carbon
Carbon
Carbon
Polished Copper Metals Strip

RESULTS AND QUESTIONS:

A Galvanic Cell Reduction Potentials of Several Redox Couples:
1 Fill in the following table with your observations and interpretations from the galvanic
cells.
Galvanic

Measured

Cell

Ecell

Anode

Equation for

Cathod

Equation for

Anode Reaction

Cathode Reaction

Cu-Zn

0.618V

Zn

Zn Zn2+ + 2e

Cu

Cu2+ + 2e Cu

Cu-Mg

1.638V

Mg

Mg Mg2+ + 2e

Cu

Cu2+ + 2e Cu

Cu-Fe

0.729V

Fe

Fe Fe2+ + 2e

Cu

Cu2+ + 2e Cu

Zn-Mg

0.992V

Mg

Mg Mg2+ + 2e

Zn

Zn2+ + 2e Zn

Fe-Mg

1.009V

Mg

Mg Mg2+ + 2e

Fe

Fe2+ + 2e Fe

Zn-Fe

0.0629V

Fe

Fe Fe2+ + 2e

Zn

Zn2+ + 2e Zn

The overall equations for the six cell reactions:

1 Cu-Zn:
Oxidation: Zn Zn2+ + 2e
Reduction: Cu2+ + 2e Cu
Overall: Cu2+ + Zn Zn2+ + Cu
2 Cu-Mg:
Oxidation: Mg Mg2+ + 2e
Reduction: Cu2+ + 2e Cu
Overall: Cu2+ + Mg Mg2+ + Cu
3 Cu-Fe:
Oxidation: Fe Fe2+ + 2e
Reduction: Cu2+ + 2e Cu
Overall: Cu2+ + Fe Fe2+ + Cu
4 Zn-Mg:
Oxidation: Mg Mg2+ + 2e
Reduction: Zn2+ + 2e Zn
Overall: Zn2+ + Mg Mg2+ +Zn
5

Fe-Mg:
Oxidation: Mg Mg2+ + 2e
Reduction: Fe2+ + 2e Fe
Overall: Fe2+ + Mg Mg2+ + Fe
Zn-Fe:
Oxidation: Fe Fe2+ + 2e
Reduction: Zn2+ + 2e Zn
Overall: Zn2+ + Fe Fe2+ + Zn

Compare the sum of the Zn-Mg and Cu-Mg cell potentials with the Zn-Cu cell potential.
Zn-Mg + Cu-Mg = 0.992V + 1.638V
= 2.630V
Zn-Cu = 0.618V

Compare the sum of the Zn-Fe and Zn-Mg cell potentials with the Fe-Mg cell potential.
Zn-Fe + Zn-Mg = 0.0629V + 0.992V
= 1.055V
Fe-Mg = 1.009V

Arrange the four redox couples in order of decreasing (measured) reduction potentials.
List the reduction potential for each redox couple relative to that of the Zn 2+ (0.1M) Zn
couple, which is -0.79V. Use a table of standard reduction potentials and the Nernst
equation to calculate the reduction potentials for each of these redox couples.

Redox Couple

Reduction Potential

Reduction Potential

(Measured)
0.992V
0.618V
0.0629V
-0.79V

(Calculated)
1.0216V
0.6476V
0.0925V
-0.7604V

Zn-Mg
Zn-Cu
Zn-Fe
Zn-Zn

% Error
2.98%
4.57%
32.00%
3.89%

Electrolytic Cell Electrolysis of Aqueous Salt Solutions

1 Fill in the following table with your observations and interpretations from the electrolytic
cells.
Solution

Electrodes

Litmus Test
Change blue

NaCl

C (gr)

color to red
color
Change blue

NaBr

C (gr)

color to red
color
Change blue

CuSO4

C (gr)

color to red
color

CuSO4

Cu (s)

No change

Gas Evolved?
Cathode: Gas
evolved
Anode: No gas

Equations for Reactions

Anode : 2Cl- Cl2 + 2e
Cathode : 2H+ + 2e H2
Overall : 2H+ + 2Cl- Cl2 + H2

evolved
Cathode: Gas
evolved
Anode: No gas

Anode : 2Br- Br2 + 2e

Cathode : 2H+ + 2e H2
Overall : 2H+ + 2Br- Br2 + H2

evolved
Cathode: Gas
evolved
Anode: No gas

Anode : 2SO42- S2O82- + 2e

Cathode : 2H+ + 2e H2
Overall : 2SO42- + 2H+ S2O82- + H2

evolved
Cathode: No gas
evolved
Anode: No gas

Anode : 2SO42- S2O82- + 2e

Cathode : Cu2+ + 2e Cu
Overall : 2SO42- + Cu2+ S2O82- + Cu

evolved
2

If copper electrodes had been used instead of the carbon (graphite) electrodes for all of the
electrolytic cells, the observed reactions may have been different. Why?

Carbon electrode is an inert electrode, thus it will not compete with the ions present in the
solutions. By replacing carbon with copper which is not an inert electrode, it will undergo
erosion instead of producing gas at the electrode.
3

In the electrolysis of an aqueous salt solution, the nitrate ion, NO3-, migrates to the anode.
Considering that the nitrogen in the NO3-, (aq) is at its maximum oxidation state (of +5),
what electrolysis product(s) might you expect to observe at the anode?
Based on the electrochemical series, NO3- wont be discharge because it is located at the
upper while OH- located at the bottom. Hence, the expected product would be oxygen
gas.
CALCULATIONS:
Nernst Equation:
RT
Ecell = Eocell - nF log Q
Zn-Mg:
E = E -

0.0592
n

E = 0.992V -

X log Q

0.0592
2

0.1 M
X log 0.1 M

E = 1.0216V
0.992V 1.0216V
% Error =
1.0216 V

X 100%

= 2.98%
Zn-Cu:
E = 0.618V -

0.0592
2

0.1 M
X log 0.1 M

E = 0.6476V
0.618V 0.6476 V
% Error =
0.6476 V

X 100%

= 4.57%
Zn-Fe:
E = 0.0629V -

0.0592
2

0.1 M
X log 0.1 M

E = 0.0925V
0.0629V 0.0925 V
% Error =
0.0925 V
= 32.00%
Zn-Zn:

X 100%

E = -0.79V -

0.0592
2

0.1 M
X log 0.1 M

E = -0.7604V
0.79 V (0.7604 V )
% Error =
(07604 V )

X 100%

= 3.89%

DISCUSSIONS:
An experiment of the galvanic and electrolytic cells was done. From the experiment,
the galvanic cell process converts chemical energy into the electrical energy where the
spontaneous redox reaction occurred produced the electrical energy. The electrical energy
produced by each different cell was measured. However, the electrolytic cells was opposite
with the galvanic cell converted electrical energy into the chemical energy. It required
electrical energy to initiate the unspontaneous redox reaction. Moreover, the anode and
cathode of the galvanic cell were negative and positive electrode respectively opposite with
the electrolytic cell.
Six redox couples of galvanic cell was tested to measure the reduction potentials, E cell
and to observe the movements of electrons, anions and cations. As stated in Table A (1), the
Cu-Mg couple had the highest measured Ecell while Zn-Fe had the lowest measured Ecell. The
results were reasonable since Copper, Cu half reactions had the highest standard reduction
potentials, Ecell while the combination of Zn-Fe had low standard reduction potentials, E cell.
All three couples of Cu-Zn, Cu-Mg, and Cu-Fe galvanic cells shown that Copper, Cu was
the cathode while the other three elements were anodes due to their lower standard reduction
potentials, Ecell. Then, the couples of Zn-Mg and Zn-Fe gave the same results as Copper
redox couples where the Zinc, Zn was the cathode and Magnesium, Mg and Iron, Fe was
anode as Zn standard reduction potentials, Ecell placed the highest. Lastly, Fe-Mg couple
proved that the standard reduction potentials, E cell for half reaction was true since Fe acted as
the cathode and Mg as the anode.
Then, according to table for Question A (4), a series of Zn redox couples measured
Ecell were arranged in decreasing order and the reduction potentials, Ecell was calculated using
the Nernst equation as stated below:
Ecell = Eocell -

RT
nF

log Q

The reduction potentials, Ecell calculated proven the measured reduction potentials, Ecell since
the values of the calculated Ecell was slightly same. To prove that, the percentage error
calculated between the measured (experimental value) reduction potentials, E cell with the
calculated (theoretical value) reduction potentials, E cell less than 5% except for the zn-Fe
couple.
Next, an experiment of electrolytic cell was further tested to obtain the reaction
between the redox couples. According to table B (1), the uses of Carbon (graphite) as
electrode generally caused different reaction towards the redox couple electrolytic cells
reactions than the Copper, Cu as the electrode. All three of NaCl, NaBr, and CuSO 4 redox
couples changed the blue litmus paper to red colour and there was gas evolved at the cathode
electrode while no gas evolved at anode. Generally, half reactions occurred at anode is an
oxidation process while other half reactions happened at cathode is reduction process. In
those three NaCl, NaBr, and CuSO 4 redox couples, half reactions between each couple
anions which are Cl-, Br-, and SO42- ions with the hydroxide, OH - occurred where the
solution anions that reacted at the anode and therefore no gas evolved. Then, the cations of
each redox couples of Na+, Na+, and Cu2+ did not reacted with the cathode since the
hydrogen, H+ ions is the one that reacted at the cathode and caused the hydrogen, H 2 gas to
evolve. Therefore, the three redox couples of NaCl, NaBr, and CuSO 4 caused the gas to
evolve at the cathode. However, the redox couple of CuSO4 with the Copper, Cu electrode
did not had any reactions in litmus test and no gas evolved since both anions and cations of
the solution reacted at each anode and cathode electrode.
A series of an experiment were done to distinguish between galvanic cell and
electrolytic cell and also to observe and identify the reactions of redox couples at both cells.
However, some errors were done during the experiment and the precautions should be taken
care. The metal strips should be polished completely and rinsed to avoid any corrosion effect
toward the experiment.
CONCLUSION:
A series of an experiment were done to distinguish between galvanic cell and
electrolytic cell and also to observe and identify the reactions of redox couples at both
cells. The relative reduction potentials, E cell for all redox couples of galvanic cell were
measured and recorded while the reactions occurring at the anode and cathode for
electrolytic cell were observed and recorded.
REFERENCES:

Arents, J., Brescia, F., Meislich, H., & Turk, A. (1966). Galvanic cells and the driving
force of chemical reactions. Fundamentals of Chemistry: A Modern Introduction, 397-473.
Fried, I. (1973). The Galvanic Cell, Basic Definitions and Concepts. The Chemistry of
Electrode Processes, 9-22.