Topic 10 Making electricity

We use

batteries

in many different things

e.g. mp3 players, watches, calculators, cameras. The cost of using batteries Advantages Low initial cost Low risk of electric shock Lightweight and portable Disadvantages More expensive than mains electricity Low voltage Use valuable resources Need to dispose of dangerous chemicals When batteries are used, chemical energy is changed into electrical energy. Electricity passing along metal wires is a flow of electrons. In batteries a chemical reaction occurs and supplies the electricity. Batteries are also known as cells. In the lab we can set up a wet battery by connecting 2 metals in solutions of their own ions:
V

voltmeter copper can copper (II) sulphate solution (Cu2+ions) rocksil wool
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zinc zinc (II) sulphate solution (Zn2+ions)

The homemade battery is called the wet battery because it contains aqueous solutions.

The dry cell

is one of the most widely used batteries.

It is used in torches & radios metal terminal for carbon rod + zinc cup (supplies electrons)

cardboard and plastic cover carbon rod (accepts electrons) ammonium chloride paste (the electrolyte)

The purpose of the electrolyte is to complete the circuit. The paste in a dry cell is not completely dry, it contains ions which only move when in solution. The current cannot be carried if the cell is completely dry.

Batteries go flat because the chemicals in them get used up. Chemicals in rechargeable batteries are restored by a supply of electrons.

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When a car battery (the lead-acid battery) is being used (to start the car, power lights and radio), lead atoms give up their electrons and turn into lead ions: Pb Pb2+ + 2e

Recharging a car battery (when the engine is running) turns lead (II) ions back into lead atoms: Pb2+ + 2e Pb

In the lab a cell can be made using 2 metals in an electrolyte e.g. salt water. Ammonium chloride is an ionic compound so it can be used as an electrolyte.

Cell

bulb/ammeter

copper

zinc ammonium chloride (electrolyte)

If the electrolyte was removed, the bulb would go out because the circuit would not be complete.

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Different metals
Connecting different metals together can produce electricity (i.e. a flow of electrons along connecting wires).

metal 1 voltmeter V metal 2 filter paper soaked in sodium chloride solution

Metal 1 Magnesium Magnesium Magnesium Magnesium Zinc Zinc Zinc Iron Iron Tin

Metal 2 Zinc Iron Tin Copper Iron Tin Copper Tin Copper Copper

Volts 1.61 1.93 2.23 2.71 0.32 0.62 1.1 0.30 0.78 0.29

In the table above, magnesium is best at producing electrons; copper is best at accepting electrons. Metals tend to form ions in solution producing electrons: M M+(aq) + e_

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Metals vary in their ability to produce electrons; this is indicated by the electrochemical series on p7 of your data booklet.

This league table of metals allows you to predict: i. ii. the direction of electron flow between different metals. the size of the voltage.

The electrochemical series is a measure of how easily a metal atom loses electrons to form ions in solution. Atoms near the top of the electrochemical series lose electrons more easily than those near the bottom of the series.

When two metals are connected together, electrons flow from the metal higher in the series to the one lower in the series. The further apart two metals are in the series, the higher the voltage.

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magnesium ribbon (1 cm) copper (II) sulphate solution

After 10 minutes, brown copper appears in the bottom of the test tube. Copper ions are displaced by magnesium, which reacts forming magnesium ions.

A metal higher in the electrochemical series will displace a metal lower in the series from its compounds in solution.

Any metal above hydrogen in the electrochemical series will displace it from dilute acid solutions producing hydrogen gas.

The ion-electron equation for the formation of hydrogen is 2H+ (aq) + 2eH2 (g)

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Electricity can be produced in a cell by connecting two different metals in solutions of their metal ions. electrons A electrons

zinc Zn2+ (aq) (e.g. zinc sulphate solution)

copper Cu2+ (aq) (e.g. copper(II) sulphate solution)

ion/salt bridge

The solutions in either half of the cell are ionic and therefore are electrolytes. The filter paper connecting the two halves is called the ion, or salt, bridge, it is soaked in salt solution. The ion bridge lets the ions move over it and completes the circuit. In a cell, the atoms of one metal lose electrons and the ions of the other metal gain electrons. Loss of electrons takes place at the most reactive metal electrode. Ions of the least reactive metal gain electrons at the other electrode.

The ion-electron equations for the reactions at the two electrodes in a zinc/copper cell are: Zn (s) Zn2+ (aq) + 2eCu2+ (aq) + 2eCu (s)

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Oxidation is the loss of electrons, reduction is the gain of electrons

Remember oilrig Oxidation Is Loss of electrons Reduction Is Gain of electrons

When metal elements react forming compounds they undergo oxidation. A metal forming from a metal compound is an example of reduction. Oxidation and reduction always happen at the same time.

Displacement reactions, reaction of metals with acid and cell reactions are all examples of redox reactions.

In a

redox

reaction, reduction and oxidation occur at the same time.

For the zinc/copper cell, the ion-electron equation for the oxidation reaction is the reduction reaction Zn (s) Cu2+ (aq) + 2eZn2+ (aq) + 2eCu (s) Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

overall, the redox reaction is Zn (s) + Cu2+ (aq)

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In ion-electron equations, electrons are on right of the equation in oxidation reactions. If the equation represents a reduction reaction, electrons are on the left.

Solution Iron (III) nitrate Potassium iodide

Colour yellow colourless

Mixing the two solutions produces a reddish brown colour. This is due to the iodide ions turning into iodine molecules: 2II2 + 2e-

Electricity can be produced in a cell when at least one of the half-cells does not involve metal atoms. The iodide/iron (III) cell voltmeter V carbon electrodes

I- (aq) salt bridge

Fe3+ (aq)

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The salt bridge lets ions pass over it, completing the circuit. Electrons flow through the meter from the iodide ions to the iron (III) ions. Oxidation occurs at the iodide half-cell; reduction occurs at the iron half-cell: 2I- (aq) Fe3+ (aq) + eI2 (s) + 2eFe2+ (aq)

oxidation reaction reduction reaction

The overall redox reaction 2I- (aq) + 2Fe3+ (aq)

I2 (s) + Fe2+ (aq)

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