c

OBJECTIVES

a)c To distinguish between galvanic and electrolytic cells.

b)c To measure relative reduction potentials for a number of redox couples in a galvanic cell.
c)c To develop an understanding of the movement of electrons, anions and cations in
galvanic cell.
d)c To identify the reactions occurring at the anode and cathode during the electrolysis of
various aqueous salt solutions.

INTRODUCTION

Oxidation-reduction reactions are second fundamental type of chemical reaction. Redox

reactions as they are often called are simply reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from
one chemical species to another. Atoms that gain electrons are said to have been reducedc(their
oxidation number goes down) and atoms that have lost electrons are said to have been oxidized.
.Electrochemical reactions can occurs if we separate the oxidizing agent from the reducing agent,
connecting them only with electrodes, a wire, and salt bridge. Thus, it is called an
electrochemical cell. If a particular redox reaction is thermodynamically spontaneous, then the
electrons will transfer spontaneously and a current will be produced. An electrochemical cell that
generates a current is called a voltaic or galvanic cell. If the reaction is not spontaneous, then an
electrical current (i.e., electrons) are required to make the reaction proceed. An electrochemical
cell that uses a current is called an electrolytic cell. A standard reduction potential is defined as a
reduction potential obtained at a standard condition where the concentration of solution is 1.0 M,
the gas partial pressure is 1 atm and temperature is 25°C.The standard reduction potential values
are arranged in a certain order and the list is known as the Standard Reduction Potential Table.
The potential difference between two metals in an electrochemical cell is called cell potential.
The cell potential or the cell voltage at the standard condition is:
E°cell = E°cathode - E°anode

In other conditions,the cell potential can be calculated by using Nernst equation.

Ecell = E°cell ±0.0592/n log Q

In this experiment,cell potential is obtained from the voltmeter reading. By inserting the value
and the concentration of electrolyte in Nernst equation, standard cell potential, E°cell can be
determined.
An electrolytic cell uses electricity to produce chemical changes in electrolyte.The cell is made
up of two electrodes connected to battery which functions as a source of direct current.During
electrolysis,cations are reduced at cathode while anions are oxidized at anode.

PROCEDURES

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1.c 4 small beakers were obtained.
2.c 0.1 M solution that in figures 1.1 were prepared before it were filled into the beakers.
3.c Strips of copper, zinc, magnesium, and iron metal were polished with emery paper.
4.c The strips were rinsed with 1.0 M of HNO3 and deionized water.
5.c The strips were put in their respective beakers
6.c A Cu strip was placed in the Cu( NO3)solution while Zn strip was placed in Zn
(NO3)2 solution.
7.c A piece of filter paper was rolled and flatted.
8.c The filter paper was wetted with 0.1M of KNO3 solution.
9.c The ends of the filter paper was folded and inserted into the solution of the two
beakers. (as the salt bridge)
10.cOne electrode was connected to the negative terminal of the voltmeter and other to
positive terminal.
11.cIf the voltmeter read negative potential, the connection was reversed.
12.cThe positive cell potential was read.
13.cThe metal strips that serve as cathode (positive terminal) and anode (negative
terminal ) were identified.
14.cHalf reaction and overall reaction were determined.
15.cThe cell potentials for all possible galvanic cells that can be constructed were
determined.
16.cA new salt bridge was prepared for each galvanic cell.

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1.c Two wire leads ( different colour) attached to alligator clips were connected to a direct
current ( DC power supply).
2.c A glass u tube was mounted on a ring stand or clamps at a retort stand as in figure 1.2 in
the lab manual handout.
3.c The alligator clips were connected to the corresponding elements :




SOLUTION ELECTRODES

2g NaCl + 100 ml Carbon ( graphite)

2g NaBr + 100 ml Carbon ( graphite)
0.1 M CuSO4 Carbon ( graphite)
0.1 M CuSO4 Polished Copper Metal Strips

4.c The u-tube was filled three fourth full with a solution from table and was electrolyzed for
5 minutes.
5.c Any evidence of the reaction in the anode and cathode were observed.

RESULT AND ANALYSIS

Prepared in report sheet.

DISCUSSION

Oxidation and reduction reaction involves the transfer of electrons by mean oxidation will lose
electron whereas reduction reaction gain electron.cThere are two types of electrochemical cells;
they are either galvanic or electrolytic. A galvanic cell converts chemical energy to electrical
energy which made it as spontaneous reaction. On the other hand, an electrolytic cell requires an
external source of electrical energy to make a non-spontaneous reaction to proceed. In this
experiment, cell potential is obtained from the voltmeter reading. By inserting the value and the
concentration of electrolyte in Nernst equation, standard cell potential, E°cell can be determined.

An electrolytic cell uses electricity to produce chemical changes in electrolyte. The cell is made
up of two electrodes connected to battery which functions as a source of direct current. During
electrolysis, cations are reduced at cathode while anions are oxidized at anode. In galvanic cell
we determine the anode and cathode electrode based on the standard electrode potential table.
The electrode that are more positive mean that it reduce more, thus we can conclude the
electrode is cathode. While the anode electrode have the less positive of electrode cell potential.
During the experiment, some of error make the different of electrode cell potential with the
standard electrode cell potential are the voltmeter not functioning well,cthe crocodile clip enters
a solution and this might effect of voltmeter readings.

c
In this experiment, the mini U-tubes are designed to keep the electrode reactions more or less
separate but still allow ions to migrate through the solution and carry the electricity. In the
electrolytic cell, the electrolyte acts as a chemical substance which conducts electricity in the
molten or aqueous state. It able to conduct electricity because of the presence of freely moving
ions. Because the salt has been heated until it melts, the positive ions flow toward the negative
electrode and the negative ions flow toward the positive electrode. By using NaCl as electrolyte,
the Na+ ions migrate toward the negative electrode and the Cl- ions migrate toward the positive
electrode. But, because of the aqueous salt solution, mean it involve the mixtures of salt and
water. So now there are two substances that can be reduced at the cathode: Na+ ions and water
molecules.

Na+ + e- Na |o
 = -2.71 V
2 H2O + 2 e- H2 + 2 OH- |o
 = -0.83 V
Because it is much easier to reduce water than Na+ ions, the only product formed at the cathode
is hydrogen gas. That¶s why we observe the gas evolved at cathode both in NaCl and NaBr
electrodes. However the SO42- ion might be the best anion to use because it is the most difficult
anion to oxidize. That¶s why only small amount of gas evolved at anode. But by using copper as
electrode, there were no gas evolved at both electrodes. It¶s because copper never reacts with any
of the aqueous solutions.

CONCLUSION

The metal is ascending order of strength oxidizing agents is Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu.

There are some differences between galvanic cell and electrolytic cell which are the changes of
energy during the reaction and also the electron flow from each terminal. Galvanic cells do not
need any external power whereas electrolytic cell does.