CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4

DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS 2017

TEST 2: GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

TOTAL 35 MARKS (45 MINUTES)

Student’s Name: _________________________ Teacher’s Name: _________________________

Directions to students

Write your name and your teacher’s name in the spaces provided above.
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

SECTION A – MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

Instructions for Section A
For each question in Section A, choose the response that is correct and circle your choice.
Choose the response that is correct or best answers the question.
A correct answer scores 1, an incorrect answer scores 0.
Marks will not be deducted for incorrect answers.
No marks will be given if more than one answer is completed for any question.
Unless otherwise indicated, the diagrams in this book are not drawn to scale.

Question 1
Which of the following equations represents a redox reaction?
A. 3NO2(g) + H2O(l) → 2HNO3(aq) + NO(g)
B. Na2CO3(aq) + CaCl2(aq) → CaCO3(s) + 2NaCl(aq)
C. C2H5Cl(g) + NaOH(aq) → C2H5OH(aq) + NaCl(aq)
D. HNO3(aq) + KOH(aq) → KNO3(aq) + H2O(l)

Question 2
Using the electrochemical series, the student predicted a cell voltage of 1.56 V for a cell constructed
of a zinc and a silver half-cell. However, when the cell was constructed, the recorded cell voltage was
only 1.05 V.
Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the difference between the predicted and
observed cell voltages?
A. The student had connected the electrodes to the wrong terminals of the voltmeter.
B. The concentration of the solutions used was not 1.0 M.
C. The experiment was conducted on a warm day with a room temperature of 25°C.
D. The student used NaNO3(aq) instead of KNO3(aq) in the salt bridge.

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

Question 3
2+
The half-equations for the reaction involved in the oxidation of Fe by an acidified solution of potassium
dichromate areL
2+ 3+ –
Fe (aq) → Fe (aq) + e
2– + – 3+
Cr2O7 (aq) + 14H (aq) + 6e → 2Cr (aq) + 7H2O(l)
The overall redox equation is
2– + 2+ 3+ 3+
A. Cr2O7 (aq) + 14H (aq) + Fe (aq) → 2Cr (aq) + 7H2O(l) + Fe (aq)
3+ 2– + 2+ 3+
B. 6Fe (aq) + Cr2O7 (aq) + 14H (aq) → 6Fe (aq) + 2Cr (aq) + 7H2O(l)
3+ 3+ 2+ 2– +
C. 6Fe (aq) + 2Cr (aq) + 7H2O(l) → 6Fe (aq) + Cr2O7 (aq) + 14H (aq)
2– + 2+ 3+ 3+
D. Cr2O7 (aq) + 14H (aq) + 6Fe (aq) → 2Cr (aq) + 7H2O(l) + 6Fe (aq)

Question 4
The lead-based pigments used in traditional artists’ paint can react with pollutants from the air to produce
the back compound lead(II) sulfide, PbS. To restore the paintings to their original colour, the PbS is
converted to colourless lead(II) sulfate, PbSO4, by treating it with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. The
reaction can be presented by the following equation:
PbS(s) + 4H2O2(aq) → PbSO4(s) + 4H2O(l)
In this reaction, the oxidation number of
A. lead changes from +1 to +2, and hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidant.
B. lead changes from +2 to +4, and hydrogen peroxide acts as a reductant.
C. sulfur changes from –2 to +6, and hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidant.
D. sulfur changes from –2 to +2, and hydrogen peroxide acts as a reductant.

Question 5
2+ 2+
Which of the following is likely to oxidise Sn (aq) but not Fe (aq)?
A. Br2(l)
B. I2(s)
C. H2O2(aq)
2+
D. Pb (aq)

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

Question 6
During a series of experiments, pieces of metal were placed in various metallic salt solutions. Any reactions
occurring were noted and used to produce the following equations for reactions:
2+ 2+
Mg(s) + Co (aq) → Co(s) + Mg (aq)
2+ 2+
Fe(s) + Co (aq) → Co(s) + Fe (aq)
2+ 2+
Co(s) + Ge (aq) → Ge(s) + Co (aq)
2+
Fe(s) + Mg (aq): no reaction occurs
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
The ions Co , Ge , Mg and Fe listed from strongest oxidant to weakest oxidant are
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
A. Fe , Mg , Co , Ge
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
B. Mg , Fe , Co , Ge
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
C. Ge , Fe , Co , Mg
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
D. Ge , Co , Fe , Mg

Question 7
Which of the following statements correctly identifies the function of a salt bridge in a galvanic cell?
A. The salt bridge enables electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode in a galvanic cell.
B. The salt bridge enables anions to flow from the anode to the cathode in a galvanic cell.
C. Ions migrate through the salt bridge to maintain electrical neutrality in each galvanic half-cell.
D. The salt bridge converts electrical energy to chemical energy in a galvanic cell.

Question 8
During a practical class, a student constructed a number of half-cells. Each half-cell contained a metal
electrode and a solution containing the metal ion. The half-cells were connected, as shown below. The
direction of electron flow and cell voltage for each cell was recorded. All solutions used were 1 M.

– – – – – –
e 0.28 V e e e e 0.35 V e
0.47 V

A V B C V B A V D

2+ 2+
A (aq) B (aq) 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
C (aq) B (aq) A (aq) D (aq)

cell 1 cell 2 cell 3

Based on these observations, the student could conclude that the strongest oxidant was
2+
A. A
2+
B. B
2+
C. C
2+
D. D

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

Question 9
Natural gas may be used in a gas-fired power station to generate electricity. Natural gas can also be used in a
fuel cell to provide electrical energy.
Which of the following is the best comparison of the two methods of electricity generation at the
present time?

Efficiency of conversion of
Cost per kilojoule of energy
chemical to electrical energy by
produced by the power station
the power station
A. higher higher
B. higher lower
C. lower higher
D. lower lower

Question 10
The reactions occurring in an experimental hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell are shown below.
– –
H2(g) + 2OH (aq) → 2H2O(l) + 2e
– –
O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e → 4OH (aq)
During the operation of the cell, the pH of the solution near the positive electrode would initially
A. increase.
B. decrease.
C. remain unchanged.
D. decrease then increase steadily as diffusion occurs.

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

SECTION B – SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

Instructions for Section B
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
To obtain full marks for your responses, you should:
• give simplified answers, with an appropriate number of significant figures, to all numerical
questions; unsimplified answers will not be given full marks
• show all working in your answers to numerical questions; no marks will be given for an incorrect
answer unless it is accompanied by details of the working
• make sure chemical equations are balanced and that the formulas for individual substances include
an indication of state; for example, H2(g), NaCl(s).
Unless otherwise indicated, the diagrams in this book are not drawn to scale.

Question 1 (5 marks)

a. Sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) reacts with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in a redox reaction. The
2+
products of the reaction include Mn and CO2.

i. Write the oxidation half-equation for the reaction of the oxalate ion with the
permanganate ion in acidic solution. 1 mark

______________________________________________________________________

ii. Write the reduction half-equation for the reaction of the oxalate ion with the
permanganate ion in acidic solution. 1 mark

______________________________________________________________________

b. Consider the standard reduction potentials for the three half-cells listed below.
2+ –
Mn (aq) + 2e → Mn(s) E° = –1.18 V
3+ –
Au (aq) + 3e → Au(s) E° = 1.50V
2+ –
Cd (aq) + 2e → Cd(s) E° = –0.14V

i. Which species shown in the half-equations is the strongest reductant? 1 mark

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ii. Write an equation for the reaction occurring in the combination of half-cells that
would produce the largest voltage when arranged as a galvanic cell. 1 mark

______________________________________________________________________

iii. What is the expected voltage of the cell in part b. ii. under standard conditions? 1 mark

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

Question 2 (9 marks)
2+ +
a. An electrochemical cell was constructed using Cu /Cu and Ag /Ag half-cells at standard conditions.
The two half-cells were joined by an inverted U-tube containing a solution of sodium nitrate.
–
a. i. flow of e
V

Cu(s) NaNO3(aq) Ag(s)

2+ +
Cu (aq) Ag (aq)

i. Indicate the direction of the flow of the electrons through the wire when the cell is
operating by placing an arrow in the appropriate box in the above diagram. 1 mark

ii. Which electrode (Cu or Ag) is the anode? 1 mark

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iii. Which ions in the salt bridge would migrate into the copper half-cell when
the cell is operating? 1 mark

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iv. State two observations which could be made in the beakers to indicate that the cell
is operating. 2 marks

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v. With the aid of an ionic equation, explain why it would be unsuitable to use
a solution of potassium chloride in the salt bridge in this cell. 2 marks

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

b. Silver is also used as the basis for some button cells. Button cells are primary cells
developed to meet the need for very small cells in devices such as watches and
calculators. The basic design features and overall reaction occurring in the silver-zinc
button cell are shown below.

metal cap zinc powder

electrolyte (KOH)

outer container
of nickel or steel
silver oxide

Ag2O(s) + Zn(s) + H2O(l) Zn(OH)2(s) + 2Ag(s)

i. Label the positive and negative electrodes of the cell by placing the appropriate
symbols (+ and –) in the circles on the diagram above. 1 mark

ii. Write the half-equation for the reaction occurring at the anode when the cell
is operating. 1 mark

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

Question 3 (11 marks)

The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) uses proton exchange membrane technology. The solid polymer
membrane acts as the electrolyte and separates the anode and cathode compartments. It is an excellent
conductor of hydrogen ions but is also an electrical insulator. Methanol (CH3OH) is used as the fuel. The
cell uses an aqueous methanol solution.

b. ii.

load
CO2(g) b. i. waste

+
H (aq)

CH3OH(aq) O2(g)
electrode P electrode Q
polymer
membrane

a. The overall fuel cell reaction is the same as the combustion reaction of methanol.

i. Write the half-equation for the oxidation process occurring in the fuel cell. 1 mark

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ii. Write the half-equation for the reduction process occurring in the fuel cell. 1 mark

______________________________________________________________________

b. i. In the space on the diagram, use an arrow to mark the direction of movement
+
of the H ion through the polymer membrane. 1 mark

ii. In the space on the diagram, use an arrow to mark the direction of electron flow
in the external circuit. 1 mark

iii. Which electrode (P or Q) is the cathode? 1 mark

______________________________________________________________________

c. The DMFC is more efficient when run at high temperatures and pressures, and yet the
conditions most commonly used are 50°C to 120°C and atmospheric pressure.
Suggest a reason to explain the use of these lower temperatures and pressures. 1 mark

___________________________________________________________________________

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 CHEMISTRY VCE UNITS 3&4 DIAGNOSTIC TOPIC TESTS
GALVANIC CELLS AND FUEL CELLS

d. State two roles performed by the electrodes in this cell. 2 marks

___________________________________________________________________________

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e. State two disadvantages of fuel cells that explain why they are not a major source of
electricity at the present time. 2 marks

___________________________________________________________________________

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f. State one way in which a fuel cell, such as the DMFC, is different from a primary cell. 1 mark

___________________________________________________________________________

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