Chemistry 12

Oxidation and Reduction Reactions 4

Voltaic Cells
SOLUTIONS

1. What occurs during the operation of a voltaic cell based on the following
reaction?
2+ 2+
Ni (s) +Pb (aq) → Ni (aq) +Pb(s)

External circuit Ion movement in solution

A. electrons move from Ni to Pb 2+
Pb (aq) move away from Pb(s)
B. electrons move from Ni to Pb 2+
Pb (aq) move toward Pb(s)
C. electrons move from Pb to Ni 2+
Ni (aq) move away from Ni(s)
D. electrons move from Pb to Ni 2+
Ni (aq) move toward Ni(s)

2. A voltaic cell is made from copper and zinc half-cells. The equation for the
reaction occurring in the cell is
2+ 2+
Zn(s) + Cu (aq) → Zn (aq) + Cu(s)

Which statement is correct when the cell produces electricity?

A. Electrons are lost from zinc atoms.
B. The mass of the copper electrode decreases.
C. Electrons flow from the copper half-cell to the zinc half-cell.
D. Negative ions flow through the salt bridge from the zinc half-cell to the
copper half-cell.

3. Zinc is more reactive than copper. In this voltaic cell, which species is reduced and in
which direction do negative ions flow in the salt bridge?

Species reduced Direction of flow of negative ions in the salt bridge

A. Cu2+ from copper half-cell to zinc half-cell

2+
B. Cu from zinc half-cell to copper half-cell
2+
C. Zn from copper half-cell to zinc half-cell
D. Zn2+ from zinc half-cell to copper half-cell
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4. Two different metals are connected together in an electrochemical cell. Which of the
following is true of the electrode made of the more reactive metal?

A. It will be the negative electrode and it will undergo oxidation.

B. It will be the negative electrode and it will undergo reduction.
C. It will be the positive electrode and it will undergo oxidation.
D. It will be the positive electrode and it will undergo reduction.

5. In an operating electrochemical cell, the anions migrate

A. towards the anode through the wire

B. towards the cathode through the wire
C. towards the anode through the salt bridge
D. towards the cathode through the salt bridge

QUESTIONS 6 to 8 refer to this Au-Pb electrochemical cell. (Gold is a less reactive metal
than lead.)

1 M Au(NO3)3 1 M Pb(NO3)2

6. The direction of the electron flow is

A. from Au to Pb through the wire

B. from Pb to Au from the wire (Pb is more reactive so it is oxidized
and loses electrons. It is the anode.)
C. from Au to Pb through the salt bridge
D. from Pb to Au through the salt bridge

7. As the cell operates

A. NO3– and K+ will migrate toward the Pb half-cell.

B. NO3– and K+ will migrate toward the Au half-cell.
C. NO3– will migrate toward the Pb half cell and K+ will migrate toward the Au half-cell.
(Pb is the anode. Au is the cathode. Anions (negative) move to the anode. Cations
(positive) move to the cathode.)
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D. NO3– will migrate toward the Au half-cell and K+ will migrate toward the Pb half-cell.
8. The overall net ionic equation for the spontaneous reaction is:

A. 2Au(s) + 3Pb2+(aq)  2Au3+(aq) + 3Pb(s)

B. 2Au3+(aq) + 3Pb(s)  2Au(s) + 3Pb2+(aq)
C. 2Au(s) + 3Pb(s)  2Au3+(aq) + 3Pb2+(aq)
D. 2Au3+(aq) + 3Pb2+(aq)  2Au(s) + 3Pb(s)

QUESTIONS 9 to 11 refer to the following electrochemical cell. In this cell, MnO4– is

converted to Mn2+ and Fe2+ is converted to Fe3+.

1 M KMnO4 1 M FeSO4

9. In the above cell, which describes

the movement of the electrons?

A. They move from left to right towards the anode.

B. They move from right to left towards the anode.
C. They move from right to left towards the cathode.
When MnO4– is converted to Mn2+, the oxidation # of Mn decreases from +7
to +2. It is reduced. The MnO4– half-cell is the reduction half-cell, and
contains the cathode. Electrons always move from the anode to the cathode.
D. They move from left to right towards the cathode.

10. Which of the following best describes what happens to the mass of the anode and the
mass of the cathode as the cell operates?

anode mass cathode mass

A. decreases increases
B. decreases no change
C. no change decreases
D. no change no change

The platinum electrodes are inert and are not involved in the reaction. The products of
both half reaction are aqueous ions, which do not accumulate on the electrode.
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11. The reducing agent in this reaction is:

A. MnO4– B. Mn2+ C. Fe2+ D. Fe3+

12. You prepare a spontaneously running magnesium-tin voltaic cell.

a) Write the balanced net ionic equation for this reaction.

Magnesium is more reactive than tin.
Mg is oxidized and Sn2+ is reduced.

net ionic equation: Mg(s) + Sn2+(aq)  Mg2+(aq) + Sn(s)

b) anode = Mg(s) cathode = Sn(s)

c) State the charge on the tin electrode. positive

d) Deduce the equations for both half reactions.

oxidation Mg(s)  Mg2+(aq) + 2 e–

reduction Sn2+(aq) + 2 e–  Sn(s)

e) Specifically state the direction of electron flow.

from the magnesium electrode to the tin electrode

f) The salt bridge is made of 2.0 mol dm-3 KCl. State and explain the direction of
movement of chloride ions.

Cl- ions move towards the magnesium half-cell.

As magnesium is oxidized, more Mg2+ ions enter the solution. Negative ions are
needed to neutralize the additional positive ions.

g) Write the cell diagram convention

Mg(s) | Mg 2+(aq) || Sn2+(aq) | Sn(s)

13. A spontaneously running lead – iron voltaic cell is set up.

a) Deduce the net ionic equation for this reaction.

Iron is more reactive than lead (from the activity series).

Iron solid will be oxidized.
Lead ions will be reduced.

net ionic equation: Fe(s) + Pb2+(aq)  Fe2+(aq) + Pb(s)

b) State the flow of electrons in this cell. Be specific.

Electrons flow from the iron electrode (anode) to the lead electrode (cathode).
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c) Write the cell diagram convention.

Fe(s) | Fe 2+(aq) || Pb2+(aq) | Pb(s)

d) Draw and annotate a diagram of this cell.

Show two half cells. Each half cell has a metal electrode and an electrolyte (a
solution of the form “MSO4” or “MNO3”.

The iron electrode should have a – charge. The half reaction should be shown:
Fe(s)  Fe2+(aq) + 2 e– (oxidation)

The lead electrode should have a + charge. The half reaction should be shown:
Pb2+(aq) + 2 e–  Pb(s) (reduction)

The electrodes should be connected by an external circuit (wire). Electrons move

from the Fe electrode through the wire to the Pb electrode.

A salt bridge containing KNO3 (or NaNO3) connects the electrolytes. The cation
moves towards the lead half-cell. The anion moves toward the iron half-cell.

e) Predict and explain the change in mass of the iron electrode.

The mass of the iron electrode will decrease.
Iron is the site of oxidation. Iron atoms will lose electrons, and the iron ions enter
the solution.

14. Consider this voltaic cell: Zn(s) | Zn2+(aq) || H+(aq) | H2(g) | Pt(s)

a) Write the equations for the 2 half reactions.

oxidation Zn(s)  Zn2+(aq) + 2 e–

reduction 2H+(aq) + 2 e–  H2(g)

b) Identify the anode. zinc

Identify the cathode. platinum

c) Why is platinum solid used?

It is an inert metal and a good conductor. It also adsorbs hydrogen on its surface.

What observations would you expect at the platinum electrode?

Bubbles of colourless gas

If platinum is not available, what material could you use as a replacement?

Graphite – it is inert, and conducts electricity.

d) What observations would you expect at the other electrode?

At the zinc electrode, the mass would decrease over time.

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e) Suggest, by name, the electrolytes used in each half-cell.

Oxidation half-cell: zinc nitrate, zinc chloride

Reduction half-cell: strong acid such as nitric acid, hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid

15. Consider this voltaic cell: Mg(s) | Mg2+(aq) || Fe3+(aq), Fe2+(aq) | Pt(s)

a) Write the equations for the 2 half reactions.

oxidation Mg(s)  Mg2+(aq) + 2 e–

reduction 2Fe3+(aq) + 2 e–  2Fe2+(aq)

b) Identify the negative electrode. = anode (site of oxidation), magnesium

Identify the positive electrode. = cathode (site of reduction), platinum

c) Predict, with an explanation, the change in mass of the magnesium electrode after the
cell has been operating for a period of time.

Mass of magnesium decreases because Mg atoms are becoming Mg2+ ions and
entering the solution

d) A salt bridge containing KNO3 connects the two half cells. Predict the direction of flow
of the K+ ions.

K+ ions moves toward the Fe3+/ Fe2+ half-cell.