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Lab 9 Electrochemical Cells and Cells Potentials
Lab 9 Electrochemical Cells and Cells Potentials
ELECTROCHEMICAL
CELLS AND CELL
POTENTIALS
LAB 9
Bezawit Wube
Objectives:
1 Paper towels
1 Scissors
1 Plastic wrap
1 Cotton swabs
1 Tweezers
From LabPaq 1 Magnifier, dual
1 Multimeter-Digital
Experiment Bag
Electrochemical
Cells and Cell
Potentials
1 Aluminum Chloride, 1 M - 1 mL in Pipet
1 Aluminum Foil, 1/4" x 1/4" - 2 Pieces in Bag 2"x 3"
1 Copper (II) Sulfate, 1 M - 2 mL in Pipet
1 Copper Foil, 1/4" x 1/4" - 4 Pieces in Bag 2"x 3"
1 Lead Foil, 1/4" x 1/4" - 2 Pieces in Bag 2"x 3"
1 Lead Nitrate, 1 M - 2 mL in Pipet
1 Magnesium Ribbon, 1/4" x 1/4" - 2 Pieces in Bag
2"x 3"
1 Magnesium Sulfate, 1 M - 1 mL in Pipet
1 Potassium Nitrate, 1 M - 2 mL in Pipet
1 Tin Foil, 1/4" x 1/4" - 2 Pieces in Bag 2"x 3"
1 Tin II Chloride, 1 M - 1 mL in Pipet
1 Zinc Foil, 1/4" x 1/4" - 2 Pieces in Bag 2"x 3"
1 Zinc Sulfate, 1 M - 2 mL in Pipet
Special Papers
Bag
Special Papers
Bag-CK-2 3 Filter Paper 9.0 cm
Procedure:
2. Place 2 drops of 1 M CuSO4 solution onto the top of the piece of Zn (s).
3. Place 2 drops of 1 M ZnSO4 solution onto the top of the piece of Cu (s).
4. Study each of the solution-metal interfaces with your hand lens. Record
your observations.
Note: The discoloration of the Zn (s) is due to the formation of finely divided
Cu (s) at the zinc metal surface. The chemical reaction is a spontaneous
reaction in which an electron transfer is taking place and it is called a
reduction-oxidation or redox reaction:
Cu2+ + Zn (s) Cu (s) + Zn2+
5. Look at the piece of copper metal with ZnSO4 on it.
6. Remove the ZnSO4 from the copper metal with a cotton swab and compare
the copper surface with another copper piece. Record your observations. The
non-spontaneous reaction, i.e., the redox reaction that did not occur, is:
Cu (s) + Zn2+ Cu2+ + Zn (s)
7. Dry the metal pieces and your work surface with paper towels and leave
the metal pieces on the plastic surface because you will be using them
again.
11. Arrange the standard reduction potentials and corresponding halfreactions in order, starting with the most negative at the top of the table and
ending with the most positive at the bottom.
Data/ Observation:
Refers to Procedures Part III Step 9
Part II:
A. Switch the multimeter on and touch the red probe (positive
terminal) to the piece of copper metal and the black probe (negative
terminal) to the piece of zinc metal. Read and record the voltage. Dont
forget the sign! (Refers to Procedures Part II Step 7)
-0.98 V
B. Reverse the probes. Record what happens to the sign and switch
the meter off. (Refers to
Procedures Part II Step 8)
+0.98 V
C. Write the half-reaction occurring at the anode, Zn (s). (Refers to
Procedures Part II Step 9)
Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2e-
Part III:
Analysis:
The voltage that the student recorded is the electrochemical cell voltage of a
cell which is made up of two half-cells joined electrically by wires and the salt
bridge solution KN03. The probes are touched to the electrodes in the cell
and the measured voltage will have a positive sign if the black probe is on
the anode and the red probe is on the cathode. If the sign of the measured
voltage is negative then the reverse of the last is true. The black probe is on
the cathode and the red probe is on the anode.
Conclusion:
At the completion of this lab, students will have better knowledge of
redox reaction with copper and zinc. Students will learn concepts of oxidation
reduction.
While doing experiment, students should be careful not to spill the
aqueous solutions; thus one should not forget to place the plastic wrap on
the surface before doing the experiment.
Also, while taking measurements, it will help to sometimes scratch the
metals with the probe to get the correct and accurate voltages.