CHAPTER 3: ELECTROCHEMISTRY
1) State Michael Faraday’s first law of electrolysis.
Write its mathematical form.
Ans; The amount of chemical reaction which occurs at
any electrode during electrolysis by a current is
proportional to the quantity of electricity passed
through the electrolyte
W = ZQ or W = Zit
2) State Michael Faraday’s second law of electrolysis.
Write its mathematical form.
Ans: The amounts of different substances liberated by
the same quantity of electricity passing through the
electrolytic solution are proportional to their chemical
equivalent weights
W1/E1 = W2/E2
3) State Kohlrausch law of independent migration of
ions. Write any two applications.
Ans: The law states that” limiting molar conductivity of
an electrolyte can be represented as the sum of the
individual contributions of the anion and cation of the
electrolyte.”
Uses: (i) Degree of dissociation of weak electrolyte can
be calculated
(ii) Dissociation constant of weak electrolyte can be
determined.
(iii) Limiting molar conductivity of weak electrolyte can
be calculated.
4) Define conductivity (specific conductance) and write
its SI unit.
Ans: It is a conductance of a material of 1m long and
area of cross section 1m2. SI Unit is Sm-1.
5) Define molar conductance, what is its SI unit?
Ans. It is the conductance due to all the ions in a
solution containing 1 mole of electrolyte. Sm2mol-1
6) What is corrosion? Write anodic and cathodic
reactions involved in corrosion of Fe. Name any two
methods for prevention of corrosion.
Ans: Corrosion is Loss of metal in the form of its oxide or
any other salt form.
At anode: 2Fe(s) ⎯⎯
→ 2Fe2+ + 4e-
At cathode: O2 (g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e- ⎯⎯ → 2H2O
Methods: (i) Coating surface with paint or chemicals like
Bisphenol
(ii) Covering metal surface with more reactive metals like
Zn or Mg
7) Explain construction and working of standard hydrogen
electrode.
Ans: Hydrogen gas at 1 bar pressure is in equilibrium with 1 molar
HCl solution at 298K in the presence of platinum electrode is
called as SHE
Construction: Platinum wire is sealed
in a glass tube, one end is connected
to the external connection and another
end is connected to platinum
electrode coated with platinum black.
The glass tube with platinum electrode
is enclosed in an outer jacket with one
inlet at the top to pass hydrogen has
at 1 bar pressure.
Working: When hydrogen gas is passed, equilibrium is exist
between adsorbed H2 gas and H+ ions.
Half cell reaction,
H+(aq) + e- ⎯⎯ → ½ H2(g)
Cell representation,
Pt(s) | H2(g) (1 bar) | H+(aq) (1M)
According to the convention the reduction potential of hydrogen
half cell is assigned is zero at all temperatures.
8) What is primary battery? Give an example.
Ans: The battery in which reaction occurs only once and after the
use it becomes dead and cannot reused.
Ex; Leclanche cell (dry cell) or mercury cell
9) Explain Leclanche cell or dry cell. Write one use.
Ans; Anode is zinc container; cathode is carbon (graphite) rod with
MnO2. Electrolyte is moist NH4Cl and ZnCl2.
Reaction at anode: Zn(s) ⎯⎯ → Zn2+ + 2e –
At cathode: MnO2 + NH4 + + e- ⎯⎯→ MnO(OH) + NH3
Voltage is 1.5V and used in tv remotes, clock etc.
10) Calculate the EMF of the cell in which the following reaction takes
place Ni(s) + 2Ag+(0.002M) ⎯⎯ → Ni2+(0.160M) + 2Ag(s) (Given,
E 
= 1.05V) (solve similar problems on Nernst equation)
Cell
0.0591 [Ni 2+ ] 0.0591
Ans: Ecell = E 0
− log = 1.05 − log
[Ag + ]2
cell
2 2 (0.002)2
= 1.05 - (0.02955 × log 4 10 ) = 0.914 V
4
11) What is secondary battery? Explain lead
storage battery with reactions.
Ans: The battery which can be recharged and
reused again is called as secondary battery.
Ex: lead storage battery. It consists of a lead anode
and a grid of lead packed with lead dioxide (PbO2 )
as cathode. A 38% solution of sulphuric acid is
used as an electrolyte.
At anode; Pb(s) + SO42-(aq) ⎯⎯ → PbSO4(s) + 2e-
At cathode:PbO2+ SO42-+ 4H+ +2e- ⎯⎯
→ PbSO4+ 2H2O
Overall reaction:
Pb + PbO2 + 2H2SO4 ⎯⎯
→ 2PbSO4 + 2H2O
On charging the battery the reaction is
reversed and PbSO4(s) on anode and cathode is
converted into Pb and PbO2, respectively.
12) What is fuel cell? Explain hydrogen-oxygen fuel
cell. (draw the diagram)
Ans: Galvanic cells that are designed to convert the
energy of combustion of fuels like hydrogen,
methane, methanol, etc. directly into electrical
energy are called fuel cells
At anode: 2H2 + 4OH- ⎯⎯ → 4H2O + 4e-
At cathode: O2 + 2H2O + 4e- ⎯⎯
→ 4OH-
13) Mention any two factors which affect the
conductivity of electrolytic solution.
Ans: Factors which affect the conductivity
(i) the nature of the electrolyte added
(ii) temperature
0.160 (iii) size of the ions produced and their
solvation
(iv) the nature of the solvent and its viscosity
(v) concentration of the electrolyte