FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

LABORATORY REPORT

FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

(CHM 432)

Title of  Experiment ELECTROCHEMISTRY: ELECTROCHEMICAL

CELL AND THERMODYNAMIC FUNCTIONS

No. Experiment 2

Name of student SYAZA EMMYSHYA BINTI ZAHARUDIN

Student ID number 2020853022

Programme code AS245

Partner’s name

Date of experiment is done 5 November 2020

Date of lab report is submitted November 2020

Lecturer’s name DR. NORAINI BINTI HAMZAH

Instructor’s name
Objectives
1. To construct electrochemical cells.
2. To determine the net cell potentials for three chemical cells
3. To calculate the net cell potential based on the potential of the half-reactions that occur and
to compare your experimental and calculated values.
4. To measure the Gibbs energy based on the cell potentials.

Data
Electrolytes Concentration (M)
Zn2+ 0.1
Cu2+ 0.2
Fe2+ 0.5

Cell No Zinc-copper Cell Iron-copper cell Iron-zinc cell

(Part I) (Part II) (Part III)
Cell Notation Zn | Zn2+ || Cu2+ | Cu Fe | Fe2+ || Cu2+ | Cu Zn | Zn2+ || Fe2+ | Fe
Ecell 1 1.09 V 0.69 V 0.32 V
.
2 1.08 V 0.67 V 0.35 V
.
3 1.08 V 0.67 V 0.34 V
.
Average Ecell 1.08 V 0.68 V 0.34 V
T (K) 298 K 298 K 298 K
∆G -2(96500)(1.1) -2(96500)(0.78) -2(96500)(0.32)
= -nFE° -212.300 kJ/mol -150.540 kJ/mol -62.760 kJ/mol
Discussion
Part I

Cell notation : Zn(s) | Zn2+(aq) || Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s)

Oxidation (anode) : Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2ē E°oxi = + 0.76 V
Reduction (cathode) : Cu2+(aq) + 2ē Cu(s) E°red = + 0.34 V
Overall reaction : Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)
E°cell = E°oxi + E°red
= +0.76 V+ (+0.34 V)
= 1.10 V
Q = ¿¿
0.10
= 0.20
=0.50
0.0591
Ecell = 1.10 - log (0.50)
2
= 1.109 V
∆ G = -nFE° ∆ G° = -RTln Q
=-2(96500)(1.1) = -(8.314)(298)ln(0.50)
= -212.300 kJ/mol = 1717.322

Experimental value : 1.08 V

Theoretical value : 1.10 V

1.08−1.10
Percentage error = ǀ ǀ × 100
1.10
= 1.82%
Part II

Cell notation : Fe(s) | Fe2+(aq) || Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s)

Oxidation (anode) : Fe(s) Fe2+(aq) + 2ē E°oxi = +0.44 V
Reduction (cathode) : Cu2+(aq) + 2ē Cu(s) E°red = +0.34 V
Overall reaction : Fe(s) + Cu2+(aq) Fe2+(aq) + Cu(s)
E°cell = E°oxi + E°red
= + 0.44 + (+ 0.34)
= 0.78 V
Q = ¿¿
0.50
= 0.20
= 2.5 V
0.0591
Ecell = 0.78 - log (2.5)
2
= 0.768 V
∆ G = -nFE° ∆ G° = -RTln Q
=-2(96500)(0.78) = -(8.314)(298)ln(2.5)
= -150.540 kJ/mol = - 2270.176

Experimental value : 0.68 V

Theoretical value : 0.78 V

0.68−0.78
Percentage error = ǀ ǀ × 100
0.78
= 12.82%
Part III

Cell notation : Zn(s) | Zn2+(aq) || Fe2+(aq) | Fe(s)

Oxidation (anode) : Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2ē E°oxi = + 0.76 V
Reduction (cathode) : Fe2+(aq) + 2ē Fe(s) E°red = - 0.44 V
Overall reaction : Zn(s) + Fe2+(aq) Zn2+(aq) + Fe(s)
E°cell = E°oxi + E°red
= +0.76 V+ (-0.44 V)
= 0.32 V
Q = ¿¿
0.10
= 0.50
=0.2
0.0591
Ecell = 0.32 - log (0.2)
2
= 0.341 V
∆ G = -nFE° ∆ G° = -RTln Q
=-2(96500)(0.32) = -(8.314)(298)ln(0.2)
= -62.760 kJ/mol = 3987.50

Experimental value : 0.34 V

Theoretical value : 0.32 V

0.34−0.32
Percentage error = ǀ ǀ × 100
0.32
= 6.25%
 In part I (Zinc – Copper cell) , the cell potential that got from experiment was 1.08 V
and from the theoretical which is using the equation cell potential was 1.10 V with percentage
error 1.82% . In this part Zinc oxidized and loss electron while Copper reduced and gain
electron. As the Gibbs energy is -212.300 kJ/mol the reaction is spontaneous because of the
negative sign ∆ G < 0.
Part II ( Iron – Copper cell) the cell potential got from experiment was 0.68V and
theoretical was 0.78V with percentage error 12.82%. Iron has oxidized into ion with loss
electron while Copper reduced and gain electron. The reaction is spontaneous because the
Gibbs energy is -150.540 kJ/mol.
In part III ( Zinc – Iron cell ) the cell potential from experiment was 0.34 while from
theoretical was 0.32V with percentage error 6.25%. In this part, Zinc oxidized and loss
electron while Iron reduced and gain electron. The reaction is spontaneous as Gibbs energy
-62.760 kJ/mol.
As it can be seen, there are some differences in the theoretical and measures value of
the cell potential from the experiment. There are some possible reasons which can cause
these deviations.
Firstly, it is very possible the metals were not fully clean. It could change the
composition of each half-cell. Moreover, the instability of voltmeter scale can cause the error
in the value measured.

Conclusion

The experiment conducted was achieved the aim by finding values of the cell potentials in the
three cells. The value from experiment and calculated got some differences due to some
error.
Gibbs energy from the three cell we got negative sign in gibbs energy which is the reaction
for all three cell is spontaneous reaction.

References

Libretexts. (2020, August 21). Gibbs (Free) Energy. Retrieved from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Ma
ps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Thermodynamics/Energie
s_and_Potentials/Free_Energy/Gibbs_(Free)_Energy

Libretexts (2020, August 16). Oxidation – Reduction reaction. Retrieved from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Anal
ytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Redox_Chemistry/Oxidation-Reduction_Reactions

Oxidation-reduction reaction - Electrochemical reactions. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/science/oxidation-reduction-reaction/Electrochemical-reactions
Jotter
Question:

1. What is the reason for using a salt bridge?

Salt bridge used for connecting the half-cell of oxidation and reduction. Salt bridge help
maintaining the electrical neutrality in the circuit.

2. Calculate the standard cell potential of a cell constructed from Mg2+/Mg and Ni2+/Ni.
Which is the anode and which is the cathode?
Anode : Mg2+ / Mg E°= -2.37V
2+
Cathode: Ni / Ni E°= -0.26V

E°cell = E°(cathode) - E°(anode)

= -0.26 – (-2.37)
= +2.11V

3. Using the Nernst Equation, what would be the potential of a cell with [Ni2+] = [Mg2+]
= 0.10 M?

0.0591 0.1 0
Ecell = 2.11 - log ( )
2 0.10
= 2.11 V

5. What is the information deduced from the sign and magnitude of E and G from this
experiment?
If E°cell > 0, then ΔG is negative and the reaction is spontaneous. This is the principle of
galvanic cell where chemical energy is converted to electrical energy. Electrons supplied by
electrodes move in external circuit.