CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS

ENERGY 4: Electrochemical Cells and

Faraday’s Law
Part 2
 LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the discussion, the student should be able to:

1.) Identify types of electrochemical cells;
2.) explore the mechanisms involved in the two electrochemical cells; and
3.) solve problems using Faraday’s Law.

4 ENERGY
 TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

Kinds of Electrochemical Cells

Galvanic Cells
Electrolytic Cells

Electrolysis and Faraday’s Law

4 ENERGY
Electrochemical Cell
➢An electrochemical cell is a device capable of either generating
electrical energy from chemical reactions or facilitating it otherwise.

➢The electrochemical cells which generate an electric current are

called voltaic cells or galvanic cells

➢The other ones are called electrolytic cells which are used to drive
chemical reactions like electrolysis.
 Kinds of Electrochemical Cells
• There are two kinds of electrochemical cells - voltaic and electrolytic.
• A. Voltaic or Galvanic Cell
• a spontaneous chemical reaction provides the ENERGY to power an
external device
• all batteries are voltaic cells also known as galvanic cells
• the reactants of a voltaic cell are high energy vs the products - so the
reaction is really "wanting" to go forward, hence a positive potential.
• if it's a voltaic cell, it should have a positive potential (+volts)
• The charges at the electrodes are
⊕ cathodes and ⊖ anodes
 Kinds of Electrochemical Cells
• B. Electrolytic
• an external power supply is used to force a non-spontaneous reaction
to occur
• the reactants of an electrolytic cell are low energy vs the products - it
does NOT want to go forward at all
• the potential of an electrolytic cell will be negative with no power
applied
• water likes being water forever and ever... an electrolytic cell will split
water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas - we spend energy to get a
chemical reaction to go
• The charges at the electrodes are
⊖ cathodes and ⊕ anodes
The Two Types of Electrodes
1.) anode

• the electrode where oxidation takes place (oxidation -anode)

• ⊖ if voltaic
• ⊕ if electrolytic

2.) cathode

• the electrode where reduction take place (reduction - cathode)

• ⊕ if voltaic
• ⊖ if electrolytic
The Voltaic or Galvanic Cell
Parts of Voltaic Cell
1. Anode - is an electrode where oxidation takes place.
2. Cathode - Is an electrode where reduction takes place.
3. Inert electrode -it is used when gas is involved / ion to ion is involve. They
are made up of either platinum or graphite.
4. Wire - Used to complete the circuit connection and help electron to flow,
5. Voltameter - A device used to measure emf/cell potential.
6. Salt bridge - An inverted U shaped tube which is packed with agar paste
having neutral salt mixed in it. It is closed at end with cotton or some porous cap.
7. Electrolyte - The molten/aqueous chemical that is present in half cells in
which electrodes are dipped.
The Voltaic or Galvanic Cell

• Migration of ions maintains charge neutrality in both compartments

• Anions move into the anodic cell where excess metal cations are
formed by oxidation.
• Cations move into the cathodic cell where excess (-) charge builds up
as the metal cations are reduced
• In an electrochemical cell, electrons flow from the anode to the
cathode because the cathode has a lower electrical potential energy
than the anode.
 Notation for Voltaic Cells
The cell consisting of zinc-zinc ion half-cell and copper-copper ion half-cell :
Example:
Ionic REDOX Reaction
Zn(s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Cu (s) + Zn2+ (aq)
Cell Notation:
Zn(s) | Zn 2+ (aq) || Cu 2+ (aq) | Cu (s)
Anode Cathode

• The two electrodes are connected by a salt bridge, denoted by two vertical
bars.
• The cell terminals are at the extreme end in the cell notation.
• A single vertical bar indicates a phase boundary, such as between a solid
terminal and electrode solution.
The Voltaic or Galvanic Cell
 Notation for Voltaic Cells
Example 1:
Given: Ionic Equation
Cl2(aq) + 2 Br-(aq) ===== 2 Cl-(aq) + Br2(aq)

Reqd: Cell Notation

Soln:
Anode(oxidation) ||Cathode (reduction)

Br- | Br2 || Cl2 | Cl-

 Notation for Voltaic Cells
Example 2:
Given: Cell Notation
Al | Al3+ || Sn2+ | Sn
Reqd: Ionic Equation
Soln:
Anode Rxn: Oxidation Half Reaction
Al ===== Al+3 + 3e
Cathode Rxn: Reduction Half Reaction
Sn+2 + 2e =====Sn
The Electrolytic Cell
• ELECTROLYTIC CELL - Electrochemical cell in which an electrical
current is used to cause a chemical change
For electrolytic cells:
1. Nonspontaneous reactions require an external current to force the
reaction to proceed.
2. Electrons are forced to flow from the anode to the cathode.
3. Electrodes are generally composed of inert metals (E.g. Pt, Au).

Example: Electrolysis of Molten NaCl:

The Electrolytic Cell
• Cathode: 2 Na+1 + 2e- → 2 Na Metal is reduced at cathode
• Anode: 2Cl-1 → Cl2(g) + 2e- Nonmetal is oxidized at the anode
• Overall reaction: 2Na+1 + 2Cl- → 2Na + Cl2(g

Applications of electrolysis reactions

1. electrolytic plating - protects objects from corrosion
2. purification of metals

• ELECTROPLATING OR ELECTRODEPOSITION
An electrochemical process where metal ions are transferred from a
solution and are deposited as a thin layer onto surface of a cathode.
Electrolysis and Faraday’s Law
• This process of carrying out non-spontaneous reactions under the
influence of electric energy is termed as electrolysis.

• Michael Faraday conducted an extensive investigation on electrolysis

of solutions and melts of electrolytes. He was the first scientist who
described the quantitative aspects of the Laws of Electrolysis. He
proposed two laws to explain the quantitative aspects of electrolysis
popularly known as Faraday’s laws of electrolysis namely first law of
electrolysis and the second law of electrolysis.
Electrolysis and Faraday’s Law
• Faraday’s – First Law of Electrolysis
• It is one of the primary laws of electrolysis. It states, during electrolysis, the amount of
chemical reaction which occurs at any electrode under the influence of electrical energy
is proportional to the quantity of electricity passed through the electrolyte.

• Faraday’s – Second Law of Electrolysis

• During electrolysis, when the same quantity of electricity passes through the electrolytic
solution, a number of different substances liberated are proportional to their chemical
equivalent weights (Equivalent weight is defined as the ratio of the atomic mass of metal
and the number of electrons required for reducing the cation).

• From these laws of electrolysis, we can deduce that the amount of electricity needed for
oxidation-reduction depends on the stoichiometry of the electrode reaction.
Electrical Units
1.) coulomb - unit of electrical charge; this is the quantity of charge
that passes a point in 1 second when a current of 1 ampere flows.

2.) ampere- unit of electric current; this is the rate of flow of e-.
where: 1 A = 1 coulomb/second
Electrolysis and Faraday’s Law
• Quantitative Relationships deduced from Faraday’s Laws:
• 1.) 1 Faraday = 1 Farad=1F = 96487 coulumbs/mol electrons lost or
gained or coulumbs/eq.wt
• NOTE:96,487 C/mol, or one Faraday, denoted by the symbol F, is the amount of
electricity that is carried by one mole of electrons and is known as the Faraday
constant.
• 2.) 1F = 1 equivalent weight of electrons= 1mol of electrons
• 3.) 1eq. Wt = mass in grams is numerically equal to AW or MW
divided by the no. of electron lost or gained
Summary of Quantitative Relationships:

1 Faraday = 1 Farad = 96487 coulomb/mol

96487 coulomb = 1 equivalent weight (eq. wt.)of substance
1 eq. wt. of substance = mass im grams is AW/No. of electron lost or
gained
Determination of relationship between
eq. wt and mass in grams:
• Example 1: Fe+3 converted to pure Fe(s)
(Fe: changes oxidation number from +3 to 0, gain of e-)
No. of e- gained = l ox.no. final – ox. No. initial l
= l0 – 3l = 3 e- gained
Hence: (AW: Fe = 56)
1 eq. wt. Fe = mass in grams is AW/no. of e-gained
Finally: 1 eq. wt Fe = 56/3g = 18.67 g Fe
Determination of relationship between
eq. wt and mass in grams:
• Example 2: CuSO4 converted to pure Cu(s)
(Cu: changes oxidation number from +2 to 0, gain of e-)
No. of e- gained = lox.no. final – ox. No. initiall
= l0 – 2l = 2e- gained
Hence: (AW/MW: Cu= 64, O = 16, S= 32, CUSO4 = 160)
1 eq. wt. CuSO4 = mass in grams is AW/no. of e-gained
Finally: 1 eq. wt CuSO4 = 160/2 g = 80 g CuSO4
 Problem Applications for Electrolysis
• NOTE: Problems in Electrolysis is solved by Dimensional Analysis using the Quantitative
Relationships from Faraday’s Laws.

• 1.) How many coulombs of charge are required to form 454g of Al(s) from an Al3+ salt?
• A. 4.87 x 106 B. 50.5 C. 1.62 x 106 D. 454

• 2.) If we wish to convert 1.00 g of Au3+(aq) ion into Au(s) in a “gold-plating" process,
how long must we electrolyze a solution if the current passing through the circuit is 2.00
amps?
• A. 245 sec B. 0.50 sec C. 0.015 sec D. 735
sec

• 3.) If we electrolyze a solution of Ni2+(aq) to form Ni(s) and use a current of 0.15 amps
for 10 minutes, how many grams of Ni(s) are produced?
• A. 0.027 g B. 0.054 g C. 4.56 x 10-4 g D. 5280 g
 Problem Applications for Electrolysis
• NOTE: Problems in Electrolysis is solved by Dimensional Analysis using the Quantitative
Relationships from Faraday’s Laws.
• 1.) How many coulombs of charge are required to form 454grams of Al(s) from an Al3+ salt?
• A. 4.87 x 106 B. 50.5 C. 1.62 x 106 D. 454

Given: Change involved: Al+3 =====Al(s)

Reqd: coulumbs needed to form 454g Al(s)
Soln:
where: 96487 coul = 1eq. Wt Al
1 eq. wt Al = 27/3 g Al = 9g

NOTE: AW: Al = 27, no. of e- gained by Al = l0-3l = 3e-gained

1𝑒𝑞.𝑤𝑡.𝐴𝑙 96487 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙

• ? 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙 = 454𝑔 𝐴𝑙 = 4,876,233 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙 = 4.876 𝑥 106 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙
9𝑔 𝐴𝑙 1 𝑒𝑞.𝑤𝑡.𝐴𝑙
 Problem Applications for Electrolysis
• NOTE: Problems in Electrolysis is solved by Dimensional Analysis using the Quantitative
Relationships from Faraday’s Laws.
• 2.) If we wish to convert 1.00 g of Au3+(aq) ion into Au(s) in a “gold-plating" process,
how long must we electrolyze a solution if the current passing through the circuit is 2.00
amps?
• A. 245 sec B. 0.50 sec C. 0.015 sec D. 735 sec
• Given: Change involved: Au+3 =====Au(s)
• I = current used = 2 A = 2coul/s
• Reqd: time it takes to convert 1g Au3+ to Au(s)
• Soln:
where: 96487 coul = 1eq. Wt Au
1 eq. wt Au = 197/3 g Au = 65.67 g Au

NOTE: AW: Au = 197, no. of e- gained by Au = l0-3l = 3e-gained

1𝑒𝑞.𝑤𝑡.𝐴𝑢 96487 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙 1𝑠

• ? 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 = 1𝑔 𝐴𝑢 = 734.6 𝑠 = 735 𝑠
65.67𝑔 𝐴𝑢 1 𝑒𝑞.𝑤𝑡.𝐴𝑢 2 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙
 Problem Applications for Electrolysis
• 3.) If we electrolyze a solution of Ni2+(aq) to form Ni(s) and use a current of 0.15 amps
for 10 minutes, how many grams of Ni(s) are produced?
• A. 0.027 g B. 0.054 g C. 4.56 x 10-4 g D. 5280 g

Given: Change involved: Ni+2 → Ni(s)

I = current used = 0.15 A = 0.15coul/s
time = 10 min
• Reqd: time it takes to convert 1g Au3+ to Au(s)
• Soln:
Where: AW: Ni = 59
Change involved: Ni+2 → Ni(s) change in ox. no.: + 2 to 0
No. of electrons gained = 𝑜𝑥. 𝑛𝑜. 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 − 𝑜𝑥. 𝑛𝑜. 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 0 − 2 = 2 𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑

Hence: 1 eq wt. Ni = 59/2 g Ni = 29.5 gNi

0.15 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙 60 𝑠 1 𝑒𝑞.𝑤𝑡 𝑁𝑖 29.5 𝑔 𝑁𝑖

? 𝑔 𝑁𝑖 = 10 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0.027 𝑔
𝑠 1𝑚𝑖𝑛 96487 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙 1 𝑒𝑞.𝑤𝑡 𝑁𝑖
 Seatwork/Assignment
1.) Silver is electrodeposited on a metallic vessel of surface area 800
cm2 by passing a current of 0.2 A for 3 hours. The thickness of silver
deposited is ____________
a) 0.1 mm b) 0.02 mm c) 0.05 mm d) 0.2 mm

2.) What current must be past through a solution of AlCl3 for 1.19
hours to produce 40g of solid Al?
a.) 50.0 amps b.) 10.5 amps c.) 100. amps d.) 75.3 amps
THANK YOU