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Determination of Activity and Activity Coefficient From Cell Emf 2
Determination of Activity and Activity Coefficient From Cell Emf 2
Abstract: The chemical reaction that takes place in a galvanic cell is the redox reaction. One electrode acts as anode
in which oxidation takes place and the other acts as the cathode in which reduction takes place. The best example of
a galvanic cell is the Daniel cell. In the Daniel cell, copper and zinc electrodes are immersed in a solution of copper
(II) sulfate and zinc (II) sulfate respectively. The two half cells are connected through a salt bridge. When a metal
electrode is dipped in a solution containing its metal ions, a potential difference is developed at the metal solution
interface. This potential difference is called the electrode potential. In this experiment, the potential of the cell was
determined at different concentrations (1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125 and 0.0625 M) for each half cell. As the concentration of
zinc sulfate decreased at constant copper sulfate concentrations, the cell potential increased. Meanwhile, as the
concentration of copper sulfate decreased at constant zinc sulfate concentrations, the cell potential decreased. The
activity and activity coefficient was determined using the Nernst equation. The calculated activities for the system
ranged from 0.99 to 1.00 M and the activity coefficient measured how much the solution differed from the ideal
solution.
Keywords: galvanic cell, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, cell potential, activity, activity coefficient
1M 1M 1.00 1.10 9%
1M 0.5 M 1.00 1.11 10%
1M 0.25 M 1.00 1.12 11%
0.125
1M 1.10 1.13 3%
M
0.0625
1M 1.20 1.14 5% Figure 2.Temperature vs. cell voltage
M
relationship
6. References
https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_T
heoretical_Chemistry/Physical_Properties_of_M
atter/Solutions_and_Mixtures/Nonideal_Solutio
ns/Activity
http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Chemical/electrode.html
https://www.britannica.com/science/activity-
coefficient
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/activity
https://www
.amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=73&brch=8&sim=153
&cnt=1
http://vlab.amrita.edu/?sub=2&brch=190&sim=
361&cnt=1