CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY ACTIVITY 7

NAME: _Rey A. Dordas SCORE:

SECTION: BSME-1E

ELECTROCHEMISTRY: MEASURING CELL POTENTIAL

DATA

Zn Cu Fe Mg

Zn

Cu 0.856 V

Fe 0.188 V 0.647 V

Mg 0.702 V 1.541 V 0.887 V

Voltage of Mg/Mg2+(1.0M) vs. Cu/Cu2+ (2.0M): 1.545

QUESTIONS

1. How well do your data (from Table 1) match the predicted values from the EMF reference
table? Is the difference significant? What do you think is the cause of this difference?
 The data from table 1 did not exactly match the values from the EMF reference table
because the sole variation between the data and the reference table is in decimals, the
difference is considerable. Moreover, one of the reasons, I think, is the difference in the
concentration or molarity (M) of the solution. As observed, the elements on the table have
similar molarity while others are not.
2. You are asked to report the positive voltage, what type of electrochemical cell did you expect
to build? Explain briefly whether the overall reaction that occurred in the cell is spontaneous
or not.
 There are many types of cell but the cell that I would build is the galvanic cell because this type of cell
has a spontaneous reaction which is essential in terms of generating an electric current. It is
spontaneous since the cell potential is positive, and the Gibbs Free Energy is negative as indicated by the
relationship ∆G° = -nFE°cell. Hence, the more the value of the standard E°cell is positive, the more
feasible the REDOX reaction is.
CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY ACTIVITY 7

3. Using the data in Table 1, indicate which of the combined half-reactions occurred at the
anode and at the cathode.

Combined Half-
Anode Cathode Overall reaction of the Electrochemical Cell
reactions

Cu vs Zn Zn Cu

Fe vs Zn Zn Fe

Mg vs Zn Mg Zn

Fe vs Cu Fe Cu

Mg vs Cu Mg Cu

Mg vs Fe Mg Fe
CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY ACTIVITY 7

4. Given the schematic notation: Cu | Cu2+ (0.0200 M) ∥ Ag+ (0.0200 M) | Ag, calculate the cell
potential of this system. Show all calculation.

Cu (s)   Cu 2 (aq)  2e - E  0.34 V

Ag  (aq)  e -  Ag(s) E  0.80 V
0.0592 V
E cell  E cell  log Q
n
0.0592 V 1
E  E  log
n 0.0200
0.0592 1
E Ag / Ag  0.80 - log  0.699 V
n 0.0200
0.0592 1
E Cu 2 /Cu  0.34 - log  0.239 V
n 0.0200
E cell  E Ag  E Cu 2
E cell  0.699 V - 0.239 V
E cell  0.46 V