TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND METTALURGICAL ENGINEERING

REPORT GRADING FORM

Name of Student: Solethu Mthembu

Student Number:223134114

Course Code: BPHE20

Title of Experiment: Determination of the EMF of a cell

Experiment Number: 4

Term

Second Semester

Subject Max Mark Actual Mark

1. Title Page 1

2. Abstract 5

3. Introduction 5

4. Procedure 2

6. Results 3

7. Discussion of Results 6

Quiz Report 20

8. Conclusion 3

9. Literature Cited (References) 3

11. Organization and Neatness 2

Total 50

Signed: ____________________________________

Comments:
 ABSTRACT
Electrochemistry is the study of the relationships between electricity and chemical
reactions. It includes the study of both spontaneous and nonspontaneous processes.
An electrochemical cell is a device that can use electrical energy to facilitate chemical
reactions inside of it or create electrical energy from those reactions, there are two
types of electrochemical cells, the galvanic cell and electrolytic cell. The objective of
this experiment is to determine the EMF of the daniell cell, which is a type of galvanic
cell and how the electrode potential, also known as the EMF of the cell of a given cell
varies with the concentration of electrolytes in the anodic and cathodic half-cell.
In this experiment zinc and copper rods were placed into copper and sulphate
solutions respectively and the EMF of the daniell cell was measured as the
concentrations of the electrolytes in the anodic and cathodic half-cell were change.
From the results it was observed that as the concentration of the zinc sulphate was
decreased the EMF of the cell increased but as the concentration of the copper
sulphate solution was decreased the EMF of the cell decreased as well.

It was concluded that the EMF of the cell increases with decrease in concentration of
the electrolyte around the anode and increase in concentration of the electrolyte
around cathode.
 INTRODUCTION
The study of how to generate electricity from the energy released during spontaneous
chemical reactions and how to use electrical energy to cause non-spontaneous
chemical changes is known as electrochemistry. Electrochemical cells are used to
facilitate these reactions. An electrochemical cell is a device that can use electrical
energy to facilitate chemical reactions inside of it or create electrical energy from those
reactions. These gadgets can change chemical energy into electrical energy or the
other way around. (Kim, 2017)
There are two types of electrochemical cells, the galvanic cell, typically, a galvanic cell
consists of two electrodes, which are distinct metal rods. Each electrode is submerged
in an ion-rich solution, which together constitute a half cell. Each half cell is divided by
a porous membrane or joined by a salt bridge. Electrolytes are the liquids that the
electrodes are submerged in.
The redox reaction is the chemical process that occurs in a galvanic cell. When
oxidation occurs, one electrode serves as the anode, and when reduction occurs, the
other electrode serves as the cathode. And the electrolytic cell, in these cells electrical
energy is transferred into chemical energy, the redox reactions in these cells are not
spontaneous; rather, they need an energy input to proceed.
These cells have a cathode that is negatively charged and an anode that is positively
charged. Electrons come from an outside source (such as a battery).
The Daniel cell is a type of galvanic cell but is exclusive to Zinc and Copper electrodes
being used and Zinc and Copper ions forming, this is the type of cell that will be used
in this experiment, to determine the EMF of a cell. The cell reaction can be represented
as follows:
Ion Zn/ZnSO4 half-cell, oxidation reaction occurs.
Zn → Zn2+ + 2e–
Ion Cu/CuSO4 half-cell, reduction reaction occurs.
Cu2+ + 2e– → Cu
The net cell reaction is
Zn + Cu2+ ⇌ Zn2+ + Cu
Cell is represented as
Zn/Zn2+ || Cu2+/Cu

A connection that joins the cathodic and anodic compartments of an electrolytic

solution or a cell is known as a salt bridge. Salt bridge is used to maintain the charge
balance and to complete the circuit by facilitating the flow of ions through it.
The cell potential or emf of the cell is the potential difference between the two
electrodes in a galvanic cell. Volts are used to measure it.
Emf of the cell = Potential of the right-hand half of the cell (Cathode) - Potential of the
left-hand half of the cell (Anode).
The Emf of the Daniell cell,

Nersnt equation is used to calculate the electrode potential at non-standard condition,

it relates the equilibrium potential of an half-cell with the standard electrode potential,
temperature, activity and reaction quotients of the reacting species, and is given as

RT
𝐸 = 𝐸° 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 − ln𝑄
nF

Where:
𝐸° 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 standard electrode potential
R-gas constant 8.31 J/(mol.K)
n-moles of electrons in balanced redox
F- faraday constant= 96.485 coulombs/mole e-
𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠
Q- reaction quotient 𝑄 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠

T- temperature in K
 METHODOLOGY
Zinc and Copper sulphate solutions were prepared in two separate beakers.
Zinc and Copper strips were cleaned with sandpaper, and then placed into their
respective solutions. The copper strip was placed into the 1M copper sulphate solution
and the zinc strip was placed into the 1M zinc sulphate solution. A salt bridge was
placed into the two solutions, to connect the two solutions. The positive terminal of the
voltmeter was connected to the copper strip and the negative terminal of the voltmeter
was connected to the zinc strip using the connecting wires. The reading the voltmeter
was noted and then recorded. The concentration of the zinc sulphate solution was
decreased whilst the concentration of the copper sulphate remained constant and the
EMF at each different concentration of the zinc sulphate solution was recorded and
this was also done vice versa.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results

Concentration of ZnSO4 (M) Concentration of CuSO4 (M) EMF of the Cell (V)
0.1 0.1 1.100
0.1 0.08 1.097
0.1 0.05 1.092
0.1 0.02 1.080
0.08 0.1 1.103
0.05 0.1 1.108
0.02 0.1 1.120

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

From the results above, its visible that as the concentration of CuSO4 was being
decreased the EMF of the daniell cell also decreased but when the concentration of
ZnSO4 was being decreased the EMF of the cell increases

Conclusion
In conclusion the EMF of the cell increases with decrease in concentration of the
electrolyte around the anode and increase in concentration of the electrolyte around
cathode.
 References
Averill, B. A. & Eldredge, P., 2007. General Chemistry: Principles, Patterns, and
Applications. s.l.:Pearson College Div.
Julio De Paula, P. A. J. K., 2002. Atkins' Physical Chemistry. 11th edition ed.
s.l.:oxford.
Kim, J. J.-H. a. R. T., 2017. BYJU'S The Learning App. Electrochemical cell.
Theodore E. Brown, H. E. L. B. E. B. ,. C. M. ,. P. W. ,. M. E. S., 2018. Chemistry: The
central science. 14 ed. s.l.:Pearson.