EXPERIMENT 2: ELECTROCHEMISTRY

(ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL AND

THERMODYNAMIC FUNCTIONS)

NAME: NUR IZZATI BINTI IDRIS

MATRIC NUMBER: 2019654024

GROUP: AS2464D

LECTURER’S NAME: DR AZIZI NAWAWI

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 22/4/2020

DATE OF SUBMITTED: 30/4/2020

OBJECTIVE

1. To construct electrochemical cells.

2. To determine the net cell potentials for three electrochemical cells.
3. To calculate the net cell potential based on the potentials of the half-reactions that
occur and to compare your experimental and calculated values.
4. To measure the Gibbs energy based on the cell potentials.

METHODOLOGY

Part I: Constructing the zinc-copper electrochemical cell

About ¾ full of with 0.10 M zinc (II) sulfate and 0.20 M copper (II) sulphate
solutions was filled into two clean test tubes. Then, the strips of zinc and copper was cleaned
with steel wool. An alligator clip was used to clip the copper strip to one voltmeter terminal
and the other alligator clip used to connect the zinc strip to the other voltmeter terminal. The
copper strip was dip in the test tube containing the copper solution and the zinc strip in the
test tube containing the zinc solution at the same time. The wire must be sure not contact with
the solution. The slat-bridge was inserted into the both test tubes. The voltage was noted and
the salt-bridge was removed immediately. Three readings of voltage was recorded and the
anode and cathode of the cell was identified. The temperature at which the measurement is
taken was recorded.

Part II: Constructing the iron-copper electrochemical cell

About ¾ full of 0.50 M iron(II) ammonium sulphate solution was filled into a clean
test tube. The iron strips was cleaned with steel wool. The iron strips was connected to one
terminal of the voltmeter as before. The copper strips from part I was keep and attached to the
other terminal. The metal strips was dip into the proper solution and the salt bridge was used
to connect them as before. Three positive readings was recorded and the anode and cathode
was identified. The temperature at which the measurement taken was recorded.

Part III: Constructing the iron-zinc electrochemical cell

The iron strip attached to the voltmeter was keep, the copper in part II was replaced
with the zinc strip in part I. The metal strips was dip into the proper solution and the new salt
 bridge was used to connect them. Three positive readings was recorded and the anode and
cathode was identified. The temperature at which the measurement taken was recorded.

DATA AND RESULTS

Electrolytes Concentration (M)

Zn2+ 0.10 M
Cu2+ 0.20 M
Fe2+ 0.50 M

Cell No. Zinc-copper cell Iron-copper cell Iron-cell cell

Ecell 1.08 0.59 0.35
1.07 0.58 0.43
1.05 0.58 0.44
Average Ecell 1.07 0.58 0.41
T (K) 303.15 K 303.15 K 305.15 K

Part I: Constructing the zinc-copper cell

e e

voltmeter

Salt bridge
ZnSO4 CuSO4

Zn Cu
2+ 2+
Cell notation: Zn(s)│Zn ││Cu
(aq) │Cu(s)
(aq)

Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e Cu2+(aq) + 2e → Cu(s)

Anode (oxidation) Cathode (reduction)
E° = +0.76 V E° = +0.34 V
Ecell = +0.76 V + 0.34 V = 1.1 V
Cell reaction: Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(s) + Zn2+(aq)
ΔG = ΔG° + RT ln Q
Ecell = E° - RT / nF ln Q

= 1.1 V – (8.314) (303.15) / 2 (96500) ln ( 0.1 M / 0.2 M )

Ecell = 1.1091 V

ΔG = - n F Ecell
 ΔG = - (2) (96500) (1.1091 V)

= -214056.3 J/mol

E°cell = RT / n F ln K

1.1 V = (8.314) (298) / 2 (96500) ln K

ln K = 1.1 V / 0.01283716

K =1.62 X 1037

Part II: Constructing the iron-copper cell

e e

voltmeter

Salt bridge
Iron(II)
ammonium CuSO4
sulphate
Fe Cu
2+ 2+
Cell notation: Fe(s)│Fe ││Cu
(aq) │Cu(s)
(aq)

Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq) + 2e Cu2+(aq) + 2e → Cu(s)

Anode (oxidation) Cathode (reduction)
E° = -0.77 V E° = +0.34 V
Ecell = -0.77 V + 0.36 V = -0.41 V
Cell reaction: Fe(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(s) + Fe2+(aq)
ΔG = ΔG° + RT ln Q
Ecell = E° - RT / nF ln Q

= -0.41 V – (8.314) (303.15) / 2 (96500) ln ( 0.5 M / 0.2 M )

Ecell = -0.422 V

ΔG = - n F Ecell

ΔG = - (2) (96500) (-0.422 V)

= 81446 J/mol

E°cell = RT / n F ln K
 -0.41 V = (8.314) (298) / 2 (96500) ln K

ln K = -0.41 V / 0.01283716

K = 51.698

Part III: Constructing the iron-zinc cell

e e

voltmeter

Salt bridge
ZnSO4 CuSO4

Zn Cu
Cell notation: Zn(s)│Zn2+(aq)││Cu2+(aq)│Cu(s)
Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e Fe2+(aq) + 2e → Fe(s)
Anode (oxidation) Cathode (reduction)
E° = +0.77 V E° = +0.45 V
Ecell = +0.77 V + 0.45 V = 1.22 V
Cell reaction: Zn(s) + Fe2+(aq) → Fe(s) + Zn2+(aq)
Ecell = E° - RT / nF ln Q

= 1.22 V – (8.314) (303.15) / 2 (96500) ln ( 0.1 M / 0.5 M )

Ecell = 1.24 V

ΔG = - n F Ecell

ΔG = - (2) (96500) (1.24 V)

= -239320 J/mol

E°cell = RT / n F ln K

1.22 V = (8.314) (298) / 2 (96500) ln K

ln K = 1.22 V / 0.01283716

K =1.88 X 1041

DISCUSSION
 In this experiment, three different electrochemical cell which is zinc-copper cell, iron-copper
cell and iron-zinc cell was conducted. The galvanic cell or also known as voltaic cell are
electrochemical cells in which spontaneous oxidation-reduction reactions produce electrical energy.

For the first experiment, the zinc-copper electrochemical cell was constructed using zinc
strips dip in the 0.1M zinc (II) sulfate solution and the other side is copper strip dip in the copper (II)
sulphate solutions. The salt bridge was made because not moving the electrons from the electrolyte,
rather it's to maintain charge balance because the electrons are moving from one-half cell to the other.
In other words, the salt bridge is helps to maintain the flow of electrons from the oxidation half-cell to
a reduction half cells. The reading of voltage was repeated three times and the average for zinc-copper
cell is 1.07 V at 303.15 K. The ΔG was calculated using the formula which is -214056.3 J/mol and the
equilibrium constant K is 1.6 X 1037.

Next, second experiment is constructing the iron-copper cell. For the reaction Fe undergo the
oxidation process and attached at the anode while Cu2+ undergoes reduction process because of gained
of electron during the experiment and attached at the cathode. The average reading of voltage us 0.58
V at 303.15 K and the ΔG was calculated using the formula which is 81446 J/mol and the equilibrium
constant K is 51.698.

Lastly, the iron-zinc cell was constructed in this experiment. The zinc is attached to the anode
and undergoes the oxidation process because loss of electrons while the Fe 2+ was attached to cathode
and undergoes the reduction process. The ΔG was calculated using the formula which is -239320
J/mol and the equilibrium constant K is 1.88 X 1041. There some errors that will occur during the
experiment for example the electrode and salt bridge is not properly immersed in the solution and this
will affect the reading value of the voltmeter.

CONCLUSION

From this experiment, the galvanic cell was constructed using three different types of
components. For part I the zinc-copper cell was determined and the average E cell was 1.07 V at 303.15
K while the ΔG is -214056.3 J/mol and the equilibrium constant K is 1.62 X 10 37 was calculated.
Next is part II which is iron-copper cell was constructed the average E cell was 0.58 V at 303.15 K
while the ΔG is 81446 J/mol and the equilibrium constant K is 51.698. Lastly, part III is iron-zinc cell
was conducted, the average Ecell was -239320 J/mol and the equilibrium constant K is 1.88 X 1041.