LABORATORY REPORT

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - CHM 432

( EXPERIMENT 2 : ELECTROCHEMISTRY)

NAME NUR IEVANA INSYIRAH BINTI MOHD

ZAZULI

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL AND

THERMODYNAMIC FUNCTIONS

STUDENT NUMBER 2022862638

GROUP AS2451M3

MEMBERS NUR IRDINA SAFIAH BINTI MUHD

FARIT

ALEEYA NATASYA BINTI MOHD

AZHAR

FATHIN REDHAA BINTI MASRI

DATE OF EXPERIMENT 1 NOVEMBER 2022

DATE OF SUBMISSION 8 NOVEMBER 2022

INSTRUCTOR PROFESOR MADYA DR YUSAIRIE BIN

MOHD
OBJECTIVES

1. To construct electrochemical cells.

2. To determine the net cell potentials for three electrochemical cells.
3. To calculate the net cell potential based on the potentials 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.

APPARATUS

1. Test tubes
2. Pipettes
3. Standard flasks
4. High resistance voltmeter
5. Alligator clips

CHEMICALS

1. 0.5M potassium nitrate solution

2. 0.10M zinc (II) sulphate solution
3. 0.20M copper (II) sulphate solution
4. 0.50M iron (II) ammonium sulphate solution
5. Zinc metal strip
6. Copper metal strip
7. Iron strip
METHODOLOGY

A salt-bridge for each electrochemical cell were prepared by completely dipping a filter
paper in 0.5 M KNO3 solution.

Part I: Constructing the zinc-copper electrochemical cell

1. About ¾ full with 0.10 M zinc(II) sulphate and 0.20 M copper(II) sulphate solutions
were filled into two clean test tubes.
2. Strips of zinc and copper were cleaned with steel wool.
3. The copper strip was clipped to one voltmeter terminal by using an alligator clip and
the zinc strip was clipped to the other voltmeter terminal by using another alligator
clip.The copper strip was dipped in the test tube containing the copper solution and
at the same time the zinc strip was also dipped in the test tube containing the zinc
solution. The salt-bridge was inserted into both test tubes. The voltage was noted
and the salt-bridge was removed immediately.
4. Three readings of voltage were recorded and the anode and cathode of the cell were
identified.
5. The temperature at which the measurement is taken was recorded

Part II: Constructing the iron-copper electrochemical cell

1. ¾ full of 0.50 M iron(II) ammonium sulphate solution was filled into a clean test tube.
2. The iron strips were cleaned with steel wool. The iron strip was connected to one
terminal of the voltmeter as before. The copper strip from Part I was kept and
attached to the other terminal.
3. The metal strips were dipped into the proper solution and were connected with the
salt-bridge as before. Three positive readings were recorded and the anode and
cathode were identified.
4. The temperature at which the measurement is taken was recorded.

Part III: Constructing the iron-zinc electrochemical cell

1. The iron strip was kept and attached to the voltmeter, the copper strip in Part II was
replaced with the zinc strip in Part I.
2. The metal strips were dipped into the proper solution and were connected to a new
salt bridge. Three positive readings were recorded and the anode and cathode were
identified.
3. The temperature at which the measurement is taken was recorded.
RESULTS

Electrolytes Concentration (M)

Zn²+ 0.1

Cu²+ 0.2

Fe²+ 0.5

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

Cell symbol / Zn(s)IZn2+(aq)IICu2 Fe(s)IFe2+(aq)IICu2 Zn(s)IZn2+(aq)IIFe2

notation +(aq)ICu(s) +(aq)ICu(s) +(aq)IFe(s)

Ecell 1. 1.106 V 1. 0.572 V 1. 0.498 V

2. 1.067 V 2. 0.574 V 2. 0.495 V

3. 1.078 V 3. 0.576 V 3. 0.492 V

Average Ecell 1.084 V 0.574 V 0.495 V

T(K) 297 297 297

𝚫G -207.4943 KJ - 147.0274 KJ - 63.5549 KJ

DISCUSSION

Part I: Zinc-copper electrochemical cell

(a)

(b) Cell notation : Zn(s) I Zn²+(aq) II Cu²+(aq) I Cu(s)

(c) standard cell potential :

Half cell equation

Reduction reaction : Cu²+(aq) + 2e- 🠖Cu(s) E० = 0.34 V

Oxidation reaction : Zn(s) 🠖 Zn²+(aq) + 2e- E० = 0.76 V

Overall reaction : Cu²+(aq) + Zn(s) 🠖 Cu(s) + Zn²+(aq) E० = 1.10 V

E० cell = E० ox + E० red
= 0.76 V + 0.34 V
= 1.10 V
Average Ecell = 1.084 V , n= 2

Ecell = E° cell - 0.0591 log Q

一一一
n

1.084 V = E°cell - 0.0591 log [ Zn²+]

一一一 一一一
2 [ Cu²+]

1.084 V = E°cell - 0.0591 log [ 0.10]

一一一 一一一
2 [ 0.20]

1.084 V = E°cell - (- 8.895 x 10-³)

E°cell =1.084 V - (8.895 x 10-³)

= 1.0751 V

(d) 𝚫G = -nFE०
= - (2) (96500) ( 1.0751 V)
= - 207494.3 J
= - 207.4943 KJ

(e) 𝚫G० = -RT ln K

-207.4943 KJ = - (8.314 JK-¹mol -¹) ( 297 K) ln K
ln K = ( -207.4943 KJ / - 2469.258 )
ln K = 0.0840
K = 1.0876
Part II: Iron-copper electrochemical cell

(a)

(b) Cell notation : Fe(s) I Fe²+(aq) II Cu²+(aq) I Cu(s)

(c) standard cell potential :

Half cell equation

Reduction reaction : Cu²+(aq) + 2e- 🠖Cu(s) E० = +0.34 V

Oxidation reaction : Fe(s) 🠖 Fe²+(aq) + 2e- E० = +0.41 V

Overall reaction : Cu²+(aq) + Fe(s) 🠖 Cu(s) + Fe²+(aq) E० = +0.75 V

E० cell = E० ox + E० red
= 0.41 V + 0.34 V
= 0.75 V

Average Ecell = 0.574 V , n= 2

Ecell = E° cell - 0.0591 log Q

一一一
n
0.75 V = E°cell - 0.0591 log [Fe²+ ]
一一一 一一一
2 [ Cu²+]

0.75 V = E°cell - 0.0591 log [ 0.50]

一一一 一一一
2 [ 0.20]

0.75 V = E°cell - ( 1.1759 x 10-² )

E°cell = 0.75 V + (1.1759 x 10-²)

= 0.7618 V

(d) 𝚫G = -nFE०
= - (2) (96500) (0.7618 V)
= - 147027.4 J
= - 147.0274 KJ

(e) 𝚫G० = -RT ln K

- 147.0274 KJ = - (8.314 JK-¹mol -¹) ( 297 K) ln K
ln K = (- 147.0274 KJ / - 2469.258 )
ln K = 0.0595
K = 1.0613
Part III: Iron-zinc electrochemical cell

(a)

(b) Cell notation : Zn(s) I Zn²+(aq) II Fe²+(aq) I Fe(s)

(c) standard cell potential :

Half cell equation

Reduction reaction : Fe²+(aq) + 2e- 🠖Fe(s) E० = -0.41V

Oxidation reaction : Zn(s) 🠖 Zn²+(aq) + 2e- E० = +0.76 V

Overall reaction : Fe²+(aq) + Zn(s) 🠖 Fe(s) + Zn²+(aq) E० = +0.35V

E० cell = E० ox + E० red
= 0.76 V + (-0.41) V
= 0.35 V

Average Ecell = 0.495 V , n= 2

Ecell = E° cell - 0.0591 log Q

一一一
n
0.35 V = E°cell - 0.0591 log [Zn²+ ]
一一一 一一一
2 [Fe²+ ]

0.35 V = E°cell - 0.0591 log [ 0.10]

一一一 一一一
2 [ 0.50]

0.35 V = E°cell - ( -2.0655 x 10-² )

E°cell = 0.35 V - ( 2.0655 x 10-²)

= 0.3293 V

(d) 𝚫G = -nFE०
= - (2) (96500) (0.3293 V)
= - 63554.9 J
= - 63.5549 KJ

(e) 𝚫G० = -RT ln K

- 63.5549 KJ = - (8.314 JK-¹mol -¹) ( 297 K) ln K
ln K = (- 63.5549 KJ / - 2469.258 )
ln K = 0.0257
K = 1.0260

The impure metal strip used for the anode or cathode, which causes a voltage change, is
one of the possible sources of error that affects the difference in the value of net cell
potential in standard and experimental conditions. The alligator clips may not be firmly
attached to the metal strips, resulting in a bad connection and an effect on the value of net
cell potential. Finally, if not enough solution is used, the solution may not reach the salt
bridge.
CONCLUSION

To summarise, electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical

changes caused by electricity and the chemical changes caused by electricity. Part I yielded
an Ecell of 1.0751 V, Part II yielded an Ecell of 0.7618 V, and Part III yielded an Ecell of 0.3293
V. The slightly different values of Ecell and Ecell (theory) could be due to an error. The
possibility of error is that the alligator strip is not firmly attached to the metal strip, resulting in
a bad electrical connection. The metal strip may also be dull and lack a pure metal surface.

QUESTIONS

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

Salt bridge acts as an electrical contact between two half cells.Salt bridge prevents
the diffusion of solution from one-half cell to another. It also minimises the
liquid-liquid junction potential.

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?
Cathode is Mg²+ / Mg and anode is Ni²+ / Ni.
E० cell = E० cathode - E० anode
= -2.37 V - (-0.24) V
= 2.13 V

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

E = E० - 2.3 (RT/nF) log Q

Q = (0.10M / 0.10M) = 1
logQ = log 1 = 0
Hence , E = E०
E= E० cathode - E० anode
= 2.13 V
REFERENCES

1. Peter Atkins,Julio de Paula 2014, Atkins' Physical Chemistry, Oxford University Press
[ISBN :9780199697403]

2. University of California, Santa cruz.(2011).Electrochemisty or nernst

equation.retrieved from https://www.webassign.net/labsgraceperiod