G11 Elite Science Lab Assessment

Electrochemistry: Galvanic Cells

Purpose: Explaining the relationship between the physical components of an electrochemical cell and the
overall operational principles of the cell at standard condition.

Background:
A redox reaction involves the transfer of electrons from one chemical species to another. The energy from a
redox reaction can be used to accomplish work by constructing an electrochemical cell. In an electrochemical
cell, the oxidation process and the reduction process are separated into two half-cells connected by an external
wire. The half-cell with the oxidation process is losing negative charge (e− loss) while the half-cell with the
reduction process is gaining negative charge (e− gain). To maintain electrical neutrality in both half-cells, a salt
bridge (or semipermeable membrane) must connect the two half-cells to permit the transfer of ions between the
two solutions. Thus, the salt bridge completes the electrical circuit between the half cells as shown in Figure 1
below.

Figure 1

The transfer of electrons through the external wire create a current that can do work. The driving force pushing
the electrons through the wire is the difference in the attraction for electrons in the two half-cells. This voltage
difference is called the cell potential (Ecell) and is measured in volts. The cell potential (Ecell) is directly related to
the magnitude of the equilibrium constant for the overall oxidation-reduction reaction occurring in the cell. A
reaction that more strongly favors product formation (larger Keq) will have a higher cell potential (larger Ecell)
than a reaction which only moderately favors product formation.

Different metals, such as zinc and copper, have different tendencies to oxidize; similarly, their ions have
different tendencies to undergo reduction. The cell potential of a galvanic cell is due to the difference in
tendencies of the two metals to oxidize (lose electrons) or their ions to reduce (gain electrons). Commonly, a
reduction potential, which is a tendency to gain electrons, is used to represent the relative tendency for a given
metal ion to undergo reduction. The voltage measured in the cell is the result of the two half-reactions, and the
magnitude of the potential depends on the concentrations of the ions, the temperature, and pressure of gases. At
standard conditions, all the concentrations in the zinc/copper system are 1 molar and the temperature is 25ºC,
the cell voltage is 1.10 volts.

o RT
Using the Nernst’s equation, ( Ecell =Ecell − lnQ), Ecell can be calculated under non-standard conditions.
nF

Pre-Lab: Answer the following questions to prepare for your experiment. (6 points)
1. You are creating an electrochemical cell where you connect the positive lead to a Zn|Zn 2+ half-cell and the
negative lead to an Mg|Mg2+ half-cell and obtain a reading of +0.656 V from the multimeter. Label the parts of
the below electrochemical cell by indicating the corresponding letter to its part (cathode, anode, the metals
and corresponding solutions are included). (3 pts)

a. Solution of Mg2+ (magnesium sulfate).

b. Mg (s).

c. Anode.

d. Cathode.

e. Zn (s).

f. Solution of ZnSO4

2. Describe the direction of electron flow across the salt bridge and external circuit for the electrochemical cell
above. (1 pt)
From the cathode to the anode throw the external wire.

3. For the electrochemical cell above,

a. Write the half-reaction for the anode and cathode. (1 pt)
Mg(S)  Mg2+ + 2e- (Oxidation half reaction)
Zn2+ +2e-  Zn (Reduction reaction)
 b. Write the balanced, net equation for the reaction. (1 pt)

Mg(s)+Zn2+Mg2++Zn

Procedure
Part 1: (5 points)

Copy the link below into your browser.

Electrochemistry: Galvanic Cells and the Nernst Equation (chemcollective.org)

NOTE: Watch from the Chemcollective Site you have just opened!!

1. Watch the video and answer the following questions:

a. Is the reaction spontaneous? Justify your answer. (1pt.)

Yes, the reaction is spontaneous, because zinc has a higher tendency to lose electrons compared to copp

b. What color change did you observe? (1pt.)

From light blue to dark green.

2. Click next on the top right-hand corner of the same web page, the image below
will be displayed.

Based on the image of the above table of data, arrange the metal ions in the list below from the ion that has
the highest tendency to undergo reduction to ion that has the least tendency to undergo reduction? (3pts.)
 Zn2+, Cu2+, Sn2+, Mg2+, Ag+

Ag+

Cu2+

Sn2+

Zn2+

Mg2+

Part 2: (13 points)

Watch the Cu-Zn Electrochemical Cell Animation video provided on LMS then apply the information and
understanding gained from the video to complete the table below.

Data Table (9 points: 0.5 points each))

Electrodes Half-reaction Equations Anode Cathode

1 Cu and Ag ⇋ Cu Cu2+ + 2e- Cu Ag

2Ag+ + 2e- ⇋ 2Ag
Oxidation or Reduction? Oxidation Reduction
Dissolving into solution or Gaining Dissolve Gain
mass?
2 Zn and Ag Zn ⇋ Zn2+ + 2e- Zn Ag
2Ag+ + 2e- ⇋ 2Ag
Oxidation or Reduction? Oxidation Reduction
Dissolving into solution or Gaining Dissolve Gain
mass?
3 Cu and Zn Zn ⇋ Zn2+ + 2e- Zn Cu
Cu2+ + 2e- ⇋ Cu
Oxidation or Reduction? Oxidation Reduction
Dissolving into solution or Gaining Dissolve Gain
mass?

Answer the following questions relating to electrochemical cells from the table above. (4pts)

1. What is another name for a voltaic cell? (1 point)

Galvanic

2. For the first cell, Cu-Ag:

a. Write the balanced, net ionic equation for the reaction. (1 point)
Cu(s)+2Ag Cu2+ +2Ag(s)
3. For the second cell, Zn-Ag:
a. Write the balanced, net ionic equation for the reaction. (1 point)
Zn(s)+2Ag+ 2Ag(s)

4. For the third cell, Zn-Cu:

a. Write the balanced, net ionic equation for the reaction. (1 point)
Zn(s)+Cu2+ Zn2+ +Cu(S)

Part 3: (7 points)

1. Using a current of 2.00 amperes at 5.00 V for 5:00 minutes, a student electroplated an iron (Fe) spoon with
copper (Cu).

The table below shows the results of the experiment:

Initial mass of Fe (g) 15

Final mass of Fe (g) 15.368
Mass of Cu deposited on Fe (g) 0.368

Answer the following questions relating to electrochemical cells. Show your work for any calculations.
1. Is electroplating a thermodynamically favored (spontaneous) reaction, or does it require energy? (Look at
the voltage) Justify your answer. (1 point)
Yes, electroplating is a thermodynamically favored reaction. because the applied voltage of 5.00 V
exceeds the potential energy required for the electroplating process, indicating that the reaction will
proceed spontaneously.

2. What attracts the Cu onto the Fe electrode? (2 points)

The attraction of copper ions onto the iron electrode is due to the reduction reaction occurring at the cathode

3. Calculate the moles of copper formed. (1 point)

Mass of Cu
Moles of Cu=
Molar Mass of Cu
0.368 g
Moles of Cu= ≈ 0.0058 mol
g
63.55
mol

4. Write the Cu half reaction that takes place on the Fe electrode as Cu is deposited. (1 point)
 −¿→ Cu¿
¿
Cu2+¿+2 e

5. How many moles of electrons are transferred when one mole of Cu is formed? (1 point)
Two moles of electrons are transferred.

6. Calculate the moles of electrons that ran through this circuit in order for the Cu to form. (Multiply the moles
of Cu by the moles of electrons traveling). (1 point)
From the half-reaction:
−¿→ Cu¿
¿
Cu2+¿+2 e

We see that for every mole of copper formed, 2 moles of electrons are transferred.

From earlier, we calculated that 0.0058 moles of copper were formed.

Therefore, the number of moles of electrons transferred is:

Moles of electrons = Moles of copper × Moles of electrons per mole of copper

Moles of electrons = 0.0058mol × 2mol/mol =0.0116 mol

So, 0.0116 moles of electrons ran through the circuit in order for the copper to form

Total Score

31 points 100 %