PROCEDURE

A. Galvanic cell - Reduction Potentials of Several Couple

1. The Electrodes, Solutions and Equipment was collected

Four small beakers was obtained and were filled with different solutions with same
concentration, which was 0.1 M Copper Nitrate, Zinc Nitrate, Iron Sulphate and
Magnesium Sulphate solutions.  The strips of copper, zinc and iron metal were
polished with sand paper and rinsed them with deionized water. The polished metals
were used as electrodes and were immersed them in their respective solutions. The
voltmeter was connected to the electrodes by using crocodile clips.

2. The Copper/Zinc Cell was set up

A copper strip was placed in the copper (ll) nitrate solution and a zinc strips was
placed in the zinc (ll) nitrate solution. A piece of filter paper was rolled and flattens.
Then, the rolled filter paper iwas immersed in the potassium chloride until it was wet.
This wet filter paper was acted as salt bridge. The end of salt bridge was inserted
between two beakers.

3. The Copper/Zinc Cell Potential was determined

 The potential at the voltmeter was read and recorded. The metal strips that was
served as the cathode and the anode were identified.

4. The Remaining Cells was repeated

The cell potentials for all possible galvanic cells that can be constructed from the
other redox couples was determined. A new salt bridge was prepared for each
galvanic cell.

5. The Relative Reduction Potentials was determined

The reduction of the Zn2+ (0.1M) / Zn redoc couple was -0.79V was assumed. Then,
the reduction potentials of all other redox couples are determined. All the calculations
and data results were presented together in this report.

B. Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

1. Effect of Different Molar Concentrations

The galvanic cell was set up using 1 M copper sulphate and 0.001 M & copper
sulphate solutions. A  polished copper electrode was immersed in each solution. A
salt bridge was prepared to connect the two redox couples. The cell potential was
measured. The anode and cathode were determined.

2. Effect of Complex Formation

5 ml of 6 M & of ammonia solution was added to the 0.001M & copper sulphate, until
all precipitate was redissolved. The changes in the half-cell and the cell potential
were observed.

C. The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

1. The Diluted Solutions was prepared

Solution 1 through 4 as outlined were prepared using 1 ml pipette and 100 ml

volumetric flask. The apparatus that were used were rinsed with more concentrated
solution before making the transfer. The deionied water was used for dilution to the
calibration mark in the volumetric flask. The molar concentration of each solution was
calculated.

2. The Cell Potential for Solution 4 was measured and calculated

The Zn2+ / Zn redox couple was used as the reference half-cell for this part of the
experiment. The two half-cells are connected with a new salt bridge. The electrodes
were connected to the potentiometer and the potential differences were recorded.
The theoretical cell potential was calculated.

3. The Cell Potentials for Solution 3 and 2 was measured and calculated

Part C2 was repeated with solution 3 and 2 respectively. A freshly prepared salt
bridge was required for each cell.

4. The Data was plotted

Ecell(measured) and Ecell(calculaed) vs log [Cu2+] was plotted on a graph paper for the four
concentrations of copper(ll) nitrate solutions.

5. The concentration of the Unknown was determined

A copper (ll) nitrated solution with and ‘unknown’ copper ion concentration were
obtained and a galvanic cell was set up. The unknown copper ion concentration in
the solution is determined through the graph.
RESULT

A. Galvanic cell- Reduction Potentials of Several Half Cell Couples

1. Observations and interpretations from the galvanic cells.

Galvanic Measured Anode Equation for Anode Cathode Equation for

cell Ecell reaction Cathode
reaction
Cu-Zn 0.4 Zn Zn→Zn2+ + 2e- Cu Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu
Cu-Fe 0.2 Fe Fe→Fe2+ + 2e- Cu Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu
Zn-Fe 0.05 Zn Zn→Zn2+ + 2e- Fe Fe2+ + 2e- → Fe

Overall equation for the three cell reactions.

i. Cu-Zn:

Anode: Zn→Zn2+ + 2e-

Cathode: Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu

Overall equation: Zn + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu

ii. Cu-Fe:

Anode: Fe→Fe2+ + 2e-

Cathode: Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu

Overall equation: Fe + Cu2+(aq) → Fe2+(aq) + Cu

iii. Zn-Fe:

Anode: Zn→Zn2+ + 2e-

Cathode: Fe2+ + 2e- → Fe

Overall equation: Zn + Fe2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Fe

2. The reduction potentials for each of the half cell couples.

Redox couple Reduction Reduction % Error

Production Potential
(Measured) (Calculated)
Cu-Zn 0.4 1.1 63.64%
Cu-Fe 0.2 0.78 74.36%
Zn-Fe 0.05 0.32 84.38%

B. Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

1. Cell potential of ‘concentration cell’ : 0.05V

Anode reaction: 0.001M Cu

Cathode reaction: 1M Cu (more concentrated)

2. Cell potential from complex formation: 0.1V

Observation of solution in half-cell: Pale blue to blue

C: The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

1. Complete the following table with the concentrations of the Cu(NO 3)2 solutions
and the measured cell potentials. Use a table of standard reduction potentials and
the Nernst equation to calculate the Ecell.

Solution Concentration log [Cu2+] Ecell Ecell

Number of Cu(NO3)2 (measured) (calculated)
1 0.1 M -1 0.2 V 1.1 V
2 0.001 M -3 0.4V 0.96V
3 1 X 10-5 M -5 0.6V 0.86V
4 1 X 10-7 M -7 0.8V 0.74V
2. From Plot of Ecell versus log [Cu2+] - Account for any significant difference between
the measured and calculated Ecell values.

Ecell (measured) versus Log[Cu2+]

0.9
0.8
0.7
Ecwll (measured) (V)

0.6
0.5
Ecell (measured) (V)
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0
Log [Cu2+]

Ecell (calculated) versus log [Cu2+]

1.2
1
Ecell (calculated) (V)

0.8
0.6 Ecell (measured)
0.4
0.2
0
-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0
Log [Cu2+]

There are big differences between the Ecell measured and the Ecell calculated. As
the log[Cu2+] increases, the Ecell measured decreases while when the log[Cu2+]
increases, the Ecell calculated increases. This shows that there are errors while
conducting the experiment.
CALCULATION

Galvanic cell- Reduction Potentials of Several Half Cell Couples

(Ecalculated− Emeasured)
× 100 %
Ecalculated

% Error Cu-Zn:

( 1.1−0.4 ) V
× 100 %=63.64 %
1.1V

% Error Cu-Fe:

( 0.78−0.2 ) V
× 100 %=74.36 %
0.78V

% Error Zn-Fe:

( 0.32−0.05 ) V
× 100 %=84.38 %
0.32V

The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

0.0592
E=E ˚− log ¿ ¿
n

Ecell 0.1mol/L Cu(NO3)2:

E=¿
Ecell 0.001mol/L Cu(No3)2:

E=¿

Ecell 1.0 x 10^-5 mol/L Cu(No3)2:

E=¿

Ecell 1.0 x 10^-7 mol/L Cu(No3)2:

E=¿

Dilution of Solution 2,3 and 4

m1 v 1=m2 v 2

( 0.001 M ) v 1=( 1× 10−5 M ) ( 100 ml )

v 1=1 ml

QUESTIONS

Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

1. Explain why a potential is recorded.

The potential difference of two electrodes are cause by the ability of
electrons to flow from one half cell to the other. It is cause by the position
difference of the ions in the electrochemical series. The further the ion from
each other the higher the voltage of the cell potential. Meanwhile, the
nearer the ion from each other the lower the voltage of the cell potential. A
potential is recorded because of the distance in the solutions
concentration.

2. Explain why the potential changes with the addition of NH3 (aq).
 The potential changed with the addition of NH3 galvanic cell because there
are more Cu2+ ions flow from cathode and the concentration of Cu 2+ ions
decrease.

3. How would the cell potential have been affected if the NH 3(aq) had been added
to the 1M CuSO4 solution of the cell? Explain.
The cell potential decreased if the NH3(aq) had been added to the 1M CuSO4
solution of the cell. It is because the mole concentration of 1M CuSO 4 has
more copper than 0.001M CuSO4.

The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

1. How would you adjust the concentrations of Cu 2+ and Zn2+ for the Cu-Zn cell
to maximize the cell potential? Explain.
Changing the concentration of one solution in the cell will increase the
voltage potential of the cell. It is because you are putting the system further
out of the equilibrium. If there is concentration in only one side of the cell ha
change, the concentration gradient across both side of the cell becomes
steeper. Increase the concentration of Zn 2+ or Cu2+ (depending upon which
electrolyte is increase) thus, increasing the voltage potential of the cell.

DISCUSSION

In this experiment, a galvanic cell is conducted to measure the relative reduction

potentials for a number of half-cell couples in galvanic cells to develop and
understanding of the movement of electrons, anions and cations in galvanic cell. To
study factors affecting cells potentials and to estimate the concentration of ions in
solution using Nernst equations.

There are three segments of procedures where in procedure A, it’s all about the
reduction potentials of several redox couples. In procedure B, it’s is to determent the
effect of different concentration on cell potential and lastly in procedure C, we apply
the Nernst equation to determine the unknown concentration of copper ion through a
graph. A graph Ecell versus log [Cu2+] was plotted.

For experiment 1, based on the data and result that are shown, there are big
difference between the measured and calculated reduction potential for all three
redox couple. The percentage error for Cu-Zn is 63.64%, the percentage error for
Cu-Fe is 74.36% and the percentage error for Zn-Fe is 84.38% which is the
highest percentage error. These percentage error are quite high due to an error
while conducting the experiment. The error is while polishing the strips, we may
not polish it well.

For experiment 2, the cell potential of “concentration cell” is 0.05M and the
cell potential from complex formation gives 0.1M. The colour change of copper
sulphate solution in half-cell is recorded. The colour change from pale blue to
blue after 5ml of 6M of ammonia solution is added into 0.001M copper sulphate
solution. Furthermore, the cell potential is changed after the addition of 6M of
ammonia solution. This 6M ammonia is high enough to make the potential
increases.

For experiment 3, there are differences between the measured Ecell and the
calculated Ecell. The Ecell measured in 0.1M Cu(NO3)2 is 0.2V while in Ecell
calculated is 1.1V. The Ecell measured in 0.001M Cu(NO3)2 is 0.4V while in Ecell
calculated is 0.96V. The Ecell measured in 1x10 -5 M Cu(NO3)2 is 0.6V while in
Ecell calculated is 0.86V. The Ecell measured in 1x10 -7 M Cu(NO3)2 is 0.8V while
in Ecell calculated is 0.74V. Ecell for the solution of unknown concentration is
0.2V.

Some precaution steps should be taken while conducting this experiment to

avoid errors. Firstly, all apparatus should be clean thoroughly to avoid any
contaminations. Next, the strips should be identified and published as clean as
possible. Lastly, when measuring the solution, our eyes should be parallel with
the meniscus of the solution.

CONCLUSION

The relative reduction for a number of half-cell couples in a galvanic cell are
measured. For Cu-Zn, the percentage error is 63.64%, Cu-Fe gives 74.36% and
Zn-Fe gives 84.38%. The cell potential of ‘concentration cell’ is 0.05V and cell
potential from complex formation is 0.01V. The increasing in potential happen due
to the addition of 6M of ammonia into copper solution. This is the factors that
affects cells potentials.