Experiment No.

Galvanic Cells

Garcia, Tristan Jean.

ECE 1, A 16 (Group 8)

INTRODUCTION

Galvanic cells, according to the lab manual, are the “spontaneous” transfer of cells, which
are separated into two compartments called half cells, it also uses a salt bridge, which is a paper
with salt solution, that connects two half-cells to complete the solution part of an electrical
circuit. It forces the separations of metals and ions and forces them to pass through a wire, thus
reducing its ions. The reaction that is happening is called a reduction-oxidation reaction, which
cause one electron to move to another half-cell. The half-cell where the reduction is happening
can be found in the cathode, while where oxidation is happening is found at the anode, the anode
is the negative part of the cell, while the cathode is the positive side, also the cell potential of a
galvanic cell is the difference of the two metals to oxidize and to redux.

EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

Chemicals

For this experiment, we used Copper, Zinc and Iron bars, together with water, also with
the usage of a salt bridge.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Galvanic cell Ecell Anode Eq for the Cathode Eq for the

measured anode Half- cathode Half-
Reaction Reaction
 Cu – Zn 0.751 Zn Zn^2+ + 2e Cu Cu^2+ +2e ->
Cu

Cu – Fe 1.017 Fe Fe^2+ + 2e Cu Cu^2+ +2e ->

Cu
Zn – Fe 0.136 Zn Zn^2+ + 2e Fe Fe^2+ + 2e->
Fe

The Nerst equation and an unknown concentration

Galvanic cell Ecell For the redux Reduction Reduction % Error

measured couple Potential Potential
(experimental) (Theoretical)
Cu – Zn 0.751 Zn -0.0139 0.31 87.42

Zn – Fe 0.136 Fe -0.654 -0.47 39%

Zn – Zn 0 Zn -0.79 -0.79 0

Solution Concentration of Ecell -log[Cu^2+] E cell calculated

Number Cu (NO3)2 (experimental) pCu
1 0.1 mol/L 0.703 1 0.8804

2 0.01 0.774 2 0.8508

3 0.001 0.736 3 0.8212

4 0.0001 0.725 4 0.7916

LAB QUESTIONS
1. Part A.3. The filter paper salt bridge is not wetted with the 0.1 M KNO3 solution. As a result,
will be measured potential of the cell be too high, too low, or unaffected? Explain.

If the salt bridge is not wetted with KNO3, it will affect the flow of electrons, and it will not be
able to balance the charge between the oxidation and reduction vessels, thus it will make the cell
potential low.

2. Part A.3. A positive potential is recorded when the copper electrode is the positive electrode.
Is the copper electrode the cathode or the anode of the cell? Explain

The copper electrode is the cathode of the since it has a positive electrode, where in the cathode
is placed

3. PartA.5. The measured reduction potentials are not equal to the calculated reduction
potentials. Give two reasons why this might be observed.

One reason maybe is due that the measurements that were got are not accurate, and the second
reason is the energy lost or accepted from surroundings. Nothing is 100% efficient.

4. PartB.2. Would the cell potential have been affected if the NH3(aq) had been added to the 1 M

CuSO4 solution instead of the 0.001 M CuSO4 solution of the cell? Explain.

The solution of the cell of decrease since the addition of reducing agent will decrease the redux,
and the higher concentration of CuSO4 will act as the reducing agent.

5. Part B.3. The cell potential increased with the addition of Na2S solution instead of the 0.001
M CuSO4 solution. Explain.
The copper electrode will become more negative reducing the potential difference of the cell.

6. Part C. As the Concentration of the copper (II) ion increased from the solution 4 to solution 1
did the measured cell potential increased or decreased? Explain why the change occurred.

The cell potential will be decreased because MCuSO4 has a larger concentration of copper, thus
it will alter the electrode potential.

7. Part C. Suppose the 0.1 M Zn2+ solution had been diluted (instead of the Cu2+ solution),
would the measured cell potentials have increased or decreased? Explain why the change
occurred.
The measured cell potential will increase if 0.1 M Zn2+solution had been diluted instead of the
Cu2+.

8. Part C. How would you increase or decrease the Cu2+ concentration and/or increase or decrease
the Zn2+ concentration to maximize the cell potential? Explain how the change for each ion
would maximize the cell potential.
Any change to each ion to the system that pushes it further away from equilibrium, causes the
potential to go up. Any change to the system that pushes the system towards equilibrium, causes
the potential to go down. Therefore, any changes that are made to both Zn2+and Cu2+, the
system either moves closer or away from the equilibrium.