CHEMISTRY IA

By Pranav Sawkar
Topic:
A study on the effect of different transition metals on a voltaic cell

Research Question:
How does changing the anode of a voltaic cell affect the voltage produced? (Aluminium, Nickel, Zinc
and Iron)

Personal Engagement:
On my eighth birthday, my parents had taken me to the Science Centre in Singapore. There, there
was a show about batteries that was taking place live that month. That was where I saw a voltaic cell
for the first time. Of course, at that time I had no idea what it was. I was really fascinated by the fact
that the bulb was able to light up while being connected to what I thought at the time was coloured
water. I came to find out that this is a similar concept to what's used in the batteries we use every
day and when I had the chance to explore a topic in chemistry, I wanted to choose one that had
fascinated me at such a young age.

Background Information:
The voltaic cell or a galvanic cell is named after Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta. The principle
behind the working of the cell is the conversion of chemical potential energy into electrical energy.
This is done by a series of spontaneous redox reactions. The oxidation takes place at the cathode
while reduction takes place at the anode. There is a salt bridge present that connects the two half-
cells that facilitates the flow of electrons. An EMF (electromotive force) is generated by the
movement of electrons from the cathode to the anode.

Apparatus:
 1 Electrode (Zinc, Aluminium, Iron, Tin, Nickel)
 2 Electrodes (Copper)
 1 M/dm3 zinc, aluminium, iron, tin, copper and nickel sulphate (300ml each)
 0.5 M/dm3 KNO3 solution
 2 wires
 Voltmeter (Uncertainty ±0.005 V)
 Piece of string
 10 beakers
 250 ml Measuring Cylinder (Uncertainty±1 ml)
 Weighing Scale (Uncertainty±0.005g)
Method:
1) A 1 M/dm3 solution of each of the metal sulphates was created.

2) A piece of string was soaked in a 0.5 M/dm3 solution of KNO3.

3) The electrodes were placed in their respective solutions and set up the apparatus as shown
below. (use the electrolyte-soaked string as the salt bridge)

4)The potential was recorded immediately after making the connection

5) The electrodes were disconnected

6) The electrodes were polished, and another trial was conducted

7) The experiment was repeated 5 timed for zinc and copper

8) The zinc electrode and zinc sulphate were replaced with the other metals and their respective
solutions.

9) The experiment was conducted 10 times for each metal electrode and its respective salt solution

Method Reason:
I chose this method to conduct my experiment as it is the most efficient and accurate way to
conduct the experiment. While the string salt bridge can be replaced with a porous membrane or a
U-shaped tube filled will jellified electrolyte, I feel that using the string would be the most time and
cost-effective method while not sacrificing any accuracy.
Variables
Independent: The metal electrode and the corresponding sulphate solution

Dependent: The voltage of the electric current induced

Variable How it affects How to Control

Concentration of the salt The concentration of the salt
bridge electrolyte bridge electrolyte needs to be
maintained to ensure that the
ions move across solutions at
the same
Concentration of the It affects the rate at which the
electrolyte cations from the electrodes
are dissolved into the solution.
A large batch could be
produces in the beginning and
could be used for all the
Use great care while
measuring out the metals
while preparing the electrolyte
to ensure that the
concentration is maintained.

Safety:
 Be careful while detaching the electrodes as despite being small, they still have a current
passing through them.

Environmental:
 Be careful while disposing of the chemicals as they can be harmful to the environment.

Data Table:

Voltage (±0.005V)
Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial
Anode Avg.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Nickel 0.430 0.441 0.440 0.440 0.430 0.431 0.440 0.430 0.440 0.437 0.436
Iron 0.530 0.492 0.540 0.530 0.521 0.524 0.540 0.530 0.550 0.533 0.529
Zinc 0.950 0.953 0.940 0.940 0.939 0.948 0.940 0.940 0.940 0.947 0.945
Aluminium 1.780 1.766 1.790 1.770 1.803 1.778 1.820 1.770 1.810 1.788 1.788
Chart:

y = 0.4472x - 0.1935
Anode Metal vs. Voltage R² = 0.8763
2

1.5
Voltage (±0.005V)

Key:
1
1:Nickel

2:Iron
0.5
3:Zinc

4:Aluminium
0
0 1 2 3 4

-0.5
Metal (look at key)

Interpretation:

The order of increasing potential is Nickel, Iron, Zinc and Aluminium.

Explanation:

The results are in line with their places on the Electrochemical series. It is a series of elements that is
based on how hard it is for them to lose electrons (tendency of the metal to undergo reduction). The
metals find it hard to lose electrons, are placed at the top and have a higher reduction potential
compared to metals that lose electrons easily and are placed at the bottom with lower reduction
potentials.
The theoretic potential of the cells can be calculated by using these values. The formula is:

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 𝑅𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑒 − 𝑅𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒

By using this formula, the theoretic value of all the cells can be calculated.

Anode Metal Theoretic Potential of the Cell (V)

Nickel 0.60
Iron 0.79
Zinc 1.10
Aluminium 2.00
 Theoretic Potential of the Cell (V) y = 0.451x - 0.005
R² = 0.8812
2.5

2
Cell Potential

1.5

0.5

0
0 1 2 3 4
Key

1:Nickel

2:Iron

3:Zinc

4:Aluminium
Theoretic vs. Experimental Voltages

Experimental vs. Theoretical Voltage

2.5

2
Voltage (±0.005V)

1.5

0.5

0
0 1 2 3 4
Metal (look at key)

Analysis: While the experimental values are lower than the theoretical values, they both indicate the
same general trend of the voltage produced increasing down the series.