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MODULE 15: Electrochemical Voltaic Cell

Application of Voltaic Cells
1.

Dry Cell

Metal cap

Manganese (IV)
oxide + carbon
powder
zinc (-)

2.

Rod carbon (+)

Pasta ammonium
chloride

Carbon rod is covered by a mixture of manganese (IV) oxide and carbon powder.
When the dry cell is used, zinc (as the negative terminal) will release an electron to
formed zinc ion, Zn2+.
Zn Zn2+ + 2 e]
Electrons released will travel from zinc through external circuit to the ammonium ion
NH4+ at carbon rod (as the positive terminal).
Dry cell is not rechargeable.
Acid lead Accumulator

+
Sulphuric Acid

Plat lead

Lead plate that is covered with

lead (IV) oxide

The lead plate act as the negative terminal and the lead covered with lead (IV) oxide
will act as positive terminal.
Electrolyte used is dilute sulphuric acid.
When cell is used, the lead plate release electron to form lead(II) ion,
Pb Pb2+ + 2e
Electrons released travel through external circuit to lead (IV) oxide which will react
with hydrogen ion, H+ in sulphuric acid, and formed Pb2+ ions and water.
PbO2 + 4H+ + 2e Pb2+ + 2H2O
Pb2+ ions at both electrodes will react with SO42- ions to formed lead (II) sulphate
precipitation on the surface of both electrodes.

3.

Pb2+ + SO42- PbSO4

During recharging the cell, the electric is flow is inverted so that the process will go the
other direction.
Is used as a battery in cars and motorcycle.
Acid lead accumulator is rechargeable.
Mercury Cell
Metal (positive terminal)

Insulator

Zinc (negative terminal)

Mixture of mercury (II) oxide in

potassium hydroxide and zinc
hydroxide (electrolyte)

4.

Zinc become a negative terminal and when it is used, zinc will released electrons to
become zinc ion, Zn2+
Zn Zn2+ + 2e
Mercury cell is used in watch, pacemaker, calculator and hearing aid.
Mercury cell is not rechargeable.
Alkali Cell
Metal cap

Manganese (IV)
oxide + carbon
powder
zinc (negative
terminal)

5.

Manganese (IV)
oxide (positive
terminal)
Potassium hydroxide
(electrolyte)

Alkali cell is longer lasting than dry cell.

It produced a stable and higher voltage.
Alkali cell is not rechargeable and its price is higher.

Nickel-cadmium Cell
-

Nickel cadmium cell is rechargeable.

Can last longer compare to acid lead accumulator.
Its metal cap cannot easily leak.
The price is expensive.

Answer all question.

1.

A voltaic cell is constructed by dipping a magnesium ribbon and a lead strip in a M electrolyte
in a beaker as shown below. The experiment is left for a few minutes and the result is recorded.

Magnesium ribbon

Lead strip

Beaker

M Electrolyte

(a)

Suggest an electrolyte that can be used in this experiment.

(b)

State the observation in this experiment.

(c)

Explain why the magnesium ribbon is eroded in this experiment.

(d)

Write a half equation of the reaction both magnesium ribbon and lead strip.

(e)

Write the overall ionic equation of this experiment.

(f)

What happen to the concentration of lead (II) ion, Pb 2+ after doing the experiment for a
few minutes? Explain why.

(g)

2.

What do you predict happen to the voltmeter reading if both electrodes are placed
nearer to each other in the ECS?

(h)

At the figure above, mark the negative and positive terminal.

(i)

State the movement of electrons in the experiment.

(j)

Lead strip is replaced with another metal strip which will produce a higher voltage
reading. Suggest the name for that metal strip.

(k)

Lead strip is replaced with another metal strip which will produce a lower voltage
reading. Suggest the name for that metal strip.

A voltaic cell experiment has been set up in a laboratory as figure below for at least 30
minutes. The observation and the reading of the ammeter is recorded.

Ammeter

Porous pot

Copper strip
Copper (II) sulfate

Zinc strip
Zinc sulphate

aqueous 1M

aqueous 1M

(a)

Name the voltaic cell.

(b)

What is the purpose of using the ammeter in this experiment?

(c)

What is the function of using the porous pot in this experiment

(d)

(e)

State which is the

(i) Negative terminal

(ii) positive terminal

State three observations while doing this experiment.

(f)

What will happen to the concentration of copper (II), Cu 2+ after doing the experiment
for 30 minute. Explain why?

(g)

Write a half equation of the reaction happened at both terminal.

(i) Negative terminal

(ii) Positive terminal

(h)

Write an overall ionic equation of the reaction happen in the voltaic cell.

(i)

State the changing of the form of energy in this cell.

(j)

How do you know that the reaction in voltaic cell had just begun?

(k)

If the zinc and zinc sulphate aqueous is replaced with magnesium ribbon and
magnesium sulphate aqueous in other experiment.
(i) State the difference in reading of the ammeter.

(ii) Explain the difference in the reading.

3, A pupil wanted to construct the electrochemical series. He measured the potential difference of a
few pairs of metals. The result obtained from the experiment after 30 minutes

Copper

Zinc

Copper

Zinc

Copper(II)
sulphate
solution

Copper(II)
sulphate
solution

(a)

Describe the change to the electrodes after 30 minutes

(b)

Predict the change that you would see in the copper(II) sulphate solution during the experiment.

(c)

The experiment is repeated by substituting the zinc metal with iron, magnesium and lead.
diagram below shows the reading of the voltmeter.

0
5

Iron

Magnesium and copper

Zinc and copper

0
5

0
5

and copper

Lead and copper

(d) For this experiment, state;

Manipulated variable.
Responding variable. .

Fixed variable.
.
(e) Record the voltmeter readings
Pairs of metal
Negative terminal

Positive terminal

Zinc

Copper

Iron

Copper

Magnesium

Copper

Lead

Copper

Reading of
voltmeter /V

(f) State hypothesis for this experiment.

KAMAL ARIFFIN BIN SAAIM

kamal_ariffin2006@yahoo.com
http://kemhawk.webs.com/