UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

BACHELOR SCIENCE (HONS) APPLIED CHEMISTRY (AS 245)

CMT555
ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND CORROSION SCIENCE

EXPERIMENT :2
PREPARED BY : NUR BASIRAH BT ABDUL HADIB
ID NUMBER : 2016666266
GROUP : AS245_4A
LAB PARTNER : NOR ATIKAH BT OTHMAN (2016666222)
: NUR LIYANA BT ABD RAHIM (2016666256)
: WAN NUR AQLIMA BT WAN ALI (2016675156)
DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 25 SEPT 2017
DATE OF SUBMISSION : 2 OCT 2017
INSTRUCTOR : ANISAH BT S. HABIBALLAH

Grading Full mark (s) Marks

Introduction 1.0
Objective 1.0
Method 2.0
Data / Results 2.0
Calculations 2.0
Discussion 8.0
Conclusion 1.0
Answers to Questions 2.0
References 1.0
Total marks 20
INTRODUCTION:

A redox reaction involves the transfer from one chemical series to another. While, a
concentration cell is an electrolytic cell that used two electrodes but differing in concentrations.
In non-standard conditions (concentration varies) , the Nernst equation is used to calculate cell
potentials using the formula below. Different concentrations would give differ electrode potential
value.

0.0592
𝐸 = 𝐸° − ( ) 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑄
2

OBJECTIVES:

1. To study factors affecting cell potentials

2. To estimate the concentration of ions in solution using Nernst Equation.

PROCEDURE:

A. Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

1. Effect of Different Molar Concentrations

The galvanic cell using 1M CuSO4 and 0.001M CuSO4 solutions is set up. A polished
copper electrode is immersed in each solution. A salt bridge is prepared to connect
the two redox couples. The cell potential is measured. Cathode and anode is
determined.

2. Effect of Complex Formation

5ml of 6M NH3 is added to the 0.001M solution until precipitate redissolve. Any
changes in the half cell and cell potential is observed.

3. Effect of Precipitate Formation

5 ml of 2.0 M Na2S is added to the 0.001M CuSO4 solution that already contained
NH3. Then, the observation and potential value is recorded.
B. The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

1. Prepare the Diluted Solutions

Solutions 1 to 4 is prepared using serial dilutions technique using 1ml pipet and 100
ml volumetric flasks. The pipet is rinsed with the more concentrated solution before
making transfer. Deionized water is used for dilution ‘to the mark’ in the volumetric
flasks. The molar concentration is calculated for each solution.

2. Measure and Calculate the Cell Potential for Solution 4

The two half cells with a new salt bridge is connected between 1x10-7 M Cu(NO3)2
and 1.0M of Zn(NO3)2. The electrodes is connected to the potentiometer and
recorded.

3. Measure and Calculate the Cell Potentials for Solutions 3 and 2

Step 2 is repeated with solution 3 and 2 respectively. Salt bridge is required for every
cell.

4. Plot the Data

Ecell (measured) and Ecell(calculated) versus log [Cu2+] is plotted on a graph for four
concentrations of Cu(NO3)2

5. Determine the Concentration of the Unknown

Cu(NO3)2 is obtained with a solution is obtained with an unknown copper ion

concentration and is set up for galvanic cell. Ecell is determined.
RESULTS/DATA:

A. Effect of Concentration changes on Cell Potential

1. Cell potential of ‘concentration cell’ : 0.048 V

Anode reaction: Cu  Cu2+ + 2e (0.001M CuSO4)

Cathode reaction: Cu2+ + 2e  Cu (1M CuSO4)

Explain why a potential is recorded:

To observed if there is different concentration and movement of electrons between solutions.

2. Cell potential from complex formation: 0.410 V

Observation of solution in half cell (0.001M CuSO4) : Colourless solution turns to light-blue

Explain why the potential changes with the addition of NH3.

The potential changes as concentration of the solution decreases. NH3 is used to reduced the
Cu2+ into a complex ion, therefore decreases the ionic Cu concentration and create potential
differences.

3. Cell potential from precipitate formation: 0.431V

Observation of solution in half cell (0.001M CuSO4): Light blue turns to light brown solution.

Explain why the potential changes with the addition of Na2S.

Na2S will reduced Cu2+ into precipitate form and decreases the concentration of the solution
and create potential differences between 2 solutions.
B. The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

1. DATA

Ecell
Solution Concentration Of Log [Cu2+] Ecell (Calculated)
Number Cu(NO3)2 (mol/L) (measured)
(V)
(V)

1 0.1 -1 0.937 1.0704

2 0.001 -3 0.928 1.0112

3 0.00001 -5 0.859 0.952

4 0.0000001 -7 0.818 0.8928

2. Ecell of the solution of unknown concentration: 0.940V

Molar concentration of Cu2+ in unknown (based on graph) : Log [Cu2+] unknown is -1.4.
therefore, 10(-1.4) =0.04M
CALCULATIONS:

Molar concentration of Cu2+

𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝟗𝟐
𝑬 = 𝑬° − ( ) 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝑸
𝟐

Eºcell= 1.10V

a. 1.0M CuSO4 :

0.0592 1.0
𝐸 = 1.10 − ( 2
) log (0.1) = 1.0704𝑉

b. 0.001M CuSO4:

0.0592 1.0
𝐸 = 1.10 − ( 2
) log (0.01) = 1.0112𝑉

c. 0.00001M CuSO4:

0.0592 1.0
𝐸 = 1.10 − ( ) log ( ) = 0.952𝑉
2 0.00001

d. 0.0000001M CuSO4:

0.0592 1.0
𝐸 = 1.10 − ( ) log ( ) = 1.0704𝑉
2 0.1
GRAPH:

Ecell (measured) vs Log [Cu2+]

0.96
y = 0.0213x + 0.9707
0.94

0.92
Ecell (measured)

0.9

0.88

0.86

0.84

0.82

0.8
-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0
log [Cu2+] unknown

Ecell (calculated) vs log [Cu2+]

1.08
y = 0.0296x + 1.1 1.06

1.04

1.02
Ecell (calculated)

0.98

0.96

0.94

0.92

0.9

0.88
-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0
log [Cu2+]
DISCUSSION:

A. Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

A concentration cell is an electrolytic cell that comprised of two half-cells with same
electrodes, but differing in concentrations. A concentration cell acts to dilute the more
concentrated solution and concentrate the more dilute solution, creating a voltage as the cell
reaches an equilibrium. This is achieving by transfer the electrons from cell with lower
concentration to higher concentration.

In this experiment, we are test the electrode potentials create in voltmeter with the same
electrode but differ of electrolyte concentration. We measure the movement of electron between
1M CuS04 and 0.001M CuSO4. Because the ion concentrations are differ between them, there
is a potential difference between the two half-cells even though electrodes used are the same
and the result is 0.0485 V. The 0.001M CuSO4 solution is undergoes oxidation (anode) while
1.0M CuSO4 (cathode) is undergoing reduction as electron moves from low concentration to
higher concentration. Then, we are tested the effect of complex formation by adding the 5 ml of
NH3 into 0.001M CuSO4. Ammonia solution is colourless liquid, but after added into one of the
CuSO4 the solution turns light blue as Cu2+ ion will reduced into a complex ammonia ion which
gives colour into blue . The Cu2+ solution is undergoes reduction in 0.001M solution (gain e) and
we get of increasing result to 0.410V as the potential differences of both solution to reach
equilibrium. In equation, the solution produces the complex ion of Tetraamminecopper(II)
sulphate.

Eq: Cu2+ + 4NH3  [Cu(NH3)4]2+

Next, we continue the experiment by adding the 0.2M Na2S into 0.001M CuSO4 in order
to investigate the precipitate formation. From our observation, there is precipitate form and
colour changes from light blue into brown colour solution. Cu2+ is undergoes the reduction and
decrease its ionic concentration but the potential differences value increase to 0.431V. The
equation of the reaction is:

(Cu(NH3)4)SO4 + Na2S  CuS + 4NH3 + NaSO4

B. The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

We conducted to the second experiment with objectives to calculate the concentration of

unknown CuSO4 using the graph plot. During this experiment, Zn(NO3)2 is the references which
stay same as the half cell solution. The variables is only the concentration of the Cu(NO 3)2
solution. In making the solution, we used serial dilution technique from the stock solution of 1M
Cu(NO3)2.

As the Zinc has lower standard electrode potential than Copper in table, therefore Zn
always occur oxidation while Cu2+ will undergoes reduction. Based on the graph, we can
concluded that the decreasing of the log [Cu2+] will decrease the Ecell. Then, we can find the
concentration of the unknown from the Ecell that has measured from the graph. We found that
the unknown concentration is 0.04M which is lower concentration than solution 1. Then to know
the theoretical Ecell value we used the Nernst Equation. From, the Nernst Equation, Ecell
decrease as concentration decrease.

CONCLUSIONS:

The concentration of ions in solutions can be decrease by formation of complex ion and
precipitation with other solution. The unknown concentrations can be known by using a serial
dilution and graph between Ecell measured and log [Cu2+]. Ecell can be calculated by using Nernst
Equation. The decrease of concentration of Cu2+ will decrease the cell potential as Zn acts as
references (remains same).

QUESTIONS & ANSWER:

1. How would the cell potential have been affected if the NH3 (aq) and / or Na2S has been added
to the 1M CuSO4 solution instead of the 0.0010M CuSO4 solution of the cell? Explain.

The cell potential between the solution is decrease as the concentration of 1M CuSO 4 decrease
and cause the different cell potential between them to reach equilibrium smaller.

2. From Plot of Ecell versus log [Cu2+]. Account for any significant difference between the
measured and calculated Ecell values.

Based on Ecell measured graph, the value of slope is 0.0213 while the slope in Ecell calculated is
(theoretical) 0.0296. there is slightly different of 0.0083 between them.
3. How would you adjust the concentrations of Cu2+ and Zn2+ for the Cu-Zn cell to maximize the
cell potential? Explain.

The concentration Zn(NO3)2 needs to be decrease while the concentration of Cu(NO3)2 needs to
decrease. This will gives a lower value of Q and based on Nernst value the decrease the Q will
increase the Ecell (V).

REFERENCES: