4

Spontaneous Voltaic Electrochemical Cells

17. Which statement about a voltaic cell is not correct?
a. Chemical species can have their oxidation number decreased at the cathode.
b. Reduction occurs at the cathode.
c. Usually the cathode is a metal strip.
d. Oxidation occurs at the anode.
e. Elemental metal is routinely converted to metal cations at the cathode

18. Which statement regarding voltaic cells is not correct?

a. Reduction occurs at the cathode.
b. Anions move through the barrier/bridge toward the electrode where oxidation is occurring.
c. The electrode where reduction is occurring is represented by a positive sign.
d. Electrons flow in the external circuit from the cathode to the anode.
e. Electrons flow in the external circuit toward the electrode represented by a positive sign.

19. A voltaic cell is constructed based on the oxidation of zinc metal and the reduction of silver cations. Solutions of
silver nitrate and zinc nitrate also were used. Locate the silver and the silver nitrate on the diagram.

a) silver = b; silver nitrate = a

b) silver = d; silver nitrate = b
c) silver = d; silver nitrate = c
d) silver = d; silver nitrate = a

20. A voltaic cell is constructed based on the oxidation of zinc metal and the reduction of silver cations. Solutions of
silver nitrate and zinc nitrate also were used. Locate the zinc nitrate on the diagram, and identify the anode.

a) Zinc nitrate = a; anode = d

b) Zinc nitrate = a; anode = Zinc
c) Zinc nitrate = c; anode = d
d) Zinc nitrate = c; anode = Zinc

21. A voltaic cell is constructed based on the oxidation of zinc metal and the reduction of silver cations. Solutions of
silver nitrate and zinc nitrate also were used. Which statement is true regarding the direction of electron flow through
the external wire?

a) Electrons flow from left to right, from the Zinc

b) Electrons flow from right to left, to the Zinc
c) The zinc electrode will get larger as more zinc forms.
d) Anions will flow through the “bridge” from the zinc side
to the silver side

22. For the cell shown, the standard reduction potentials are +0.80 V for Ag+ and –0.76 V for Zn2+. Based on the
reduction potentials, the electrode is where the reduction will occur and it is called the
.
voltmeter

wire
salt
Ag
a. Ag, cathode bridge Zn

b. Ag, anode ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~

c. Zn, cathode
d. Zn, anode
1M Ag+ 1M Zn 2 +
e. none of the above
 5
Cell Potentials
23. What is E˚ for the following balanced reaction?

Zn(s) + Pb2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Pb(s)

Half-reaction Standard Reduction Potential
Zn2+(aq) + 2e– → Zn(s) –0.763
Pb2+(aq) + 2e– → Pb(s) –0.126
a. +0.637 V d. –0.889 V
b. –0.637 V e. +0.889 V
c. +1.274 V

24. What is E˚ for the following balanced reaction?

Al(s) + Fe3+(aq) → Al3+(aq) + Fe(s)

Half-reaction Standard Reduction Potential
3+ –
Fe (aq) + 2e → Fe(s) +0.771
Al3+(aq) + 2e– → Al(s) –1.660
a. +1.280 V d. –0.889 V
b. –2.431 V e. +0.889 V
c. +2.431 V

25. What is E˚ for the following balanced reaction?

4H+ (aq) + Fe(s) + NO3-(aq) → Fe3+(aq) + NO(aq) + 2H2O(l)

Standard Reduction Potential

NO3– + 4H+ + 3e– → NO + 2H2O E˚ = +0.960 V
Fe3+ + 3e– → Fe E˚ = +0.771 V

a. +0.189 V d. –1.731 V
b. –0.189 V e. None of the above
c. +1.731 V

26. Given the electrochemical reaction shown, if the standard reduction potential of Ag+ à Ag is +0.80 V, and the
standard reduction potential of Cu2+ à Cu is +0.34V, what is E˚ for the following?

Cu / Cu 2+(aq) // Ag+(aq) / A E˚ = ??? V

a. +1.26 V
b. +0.85 V
c. +0.46 V
d. -0.37 V
e. none of the above

27. Given the electrochemical reaction shown, if the standard reduction potential of Ni+2 à Ni is -0.26 V, and the
standard reduction potential of Al3+ à Al is -1.66V, what is E˚ for the following?

Al / Al 3+(aq) // Ni+2(aq) / Ni E˚ = ??? V

a. +1.26 V
b. +0.85 V
c. +0.46 V
d. +1.40 V
e. none of the above
 6
2+
28. Given the electrochemical reaction shown, if the standard reduction potential of Zn à Zn is –0.76 V, what is the
standard reduction potential of Mg2+ à Mg?

Mg / Mg 2+(aq) // Zn2+(aq) / Zn E˚ = +1.61 V

a. –0.85 V
b. +0.85 V
c. +2.37 V
d. –2.37 V
e. none of the above

29. Given the electrochemical retivitytion shown, if the standard reduction potential of Cu2+ à Cu is +0.34 V, what is the
standard reduction potential of Sn2+ à Sn?

Sn / Sn 2+(aq) // Cu2+(aq) / Cu E˚ = +0.48 V

a. –0.14 V
b. +0.14 V
c. +0.37 V
d. –0.37 V
e. none of the above

30. Identify the strongest reducing agent based on the following half-reactions. The standard reduction potentials are listed.
+1.22 V MnO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + 2e– → Mn2+(aq) + 2H2O(l)
+0.61 V Hg2SO4(s) + 2e– → 2Hg(l) + SO42–(aq)
–0.95 V SnO2(s) + 2H2O() + 4e– → Sn(s) + 4OH–(aq)
–1.48 V Cr(OH)3(s) + 3e– → Cr(s) + 3OH–(aq)

a. Cr d. Sn
b. MnO2 e. Hg
c. Hg2SO4

31. Identify the strongest oxidizing agent from the following half-reactions. The standard reduction potentials are listed.
+1.22 V MnO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + 2e– → Mn2+(aq) + 2H2O(l)
+0.61 V Hg2SO4(s) + 2e– → 2Hg(l) + SO42–(aq)
–0.95 V SnO2(s) + 2H2O() + 4e– → Sn(s) + 4OH–(aq)
–1.48 V Cr(OH)3(s) + 3e– → Cr(s) + 3OH–(aq)

a. Cr d. Sn
b. MnO2 e. Hg
c. Hg2SO4

32. In one episode of the TV sitcom, Gilligan’s Island, the “professor” constructed voltaic cells to use as substitutes for
their radio’s dead batteries. Which scraps of metal from their damaged boat, the Minnow, could best be used to
create a 1.5 V voltaic cell? (Assume that coconuts make great beakers and that seawater is a terrific electrolyte!)
Metal/Metal ion E
lead/lead(II) (fishing weights) –0.126
iron/iron(II) (the anchor) –0.44
silver/silver(I) (Mrs. Howell’s brooch) –0.799
aluminum/aluminum(III) (the boat’s flagpole) –1.677

a. silver anode and lead cathode d. aluminum anode and silver cathode
b. aluminum anode and lead cathode e. lead cathode and silver anode
c. iron anode and aluminum cathode
 7
Standard Reduction Potentials (volts) in Aqueous Solution
Pb4+ + 2e– → Pb2+ +1.80
Au3+ + 3e– → Au +1.50
3+ –
Fe + 3e → Fe +0.771
– –
I2 + 2e → 2 I +0.535
Pb2+ + 2e– → Pb –0.124
Al3+ + 3e– → Al –1.66
2+ –
Mg + 2e → Mg –2.37
+ –
K +e →K –2.93

33. What is the standard cell potential for a voltaic cell using the Pb2+/Pb and Mg2+/Mg half-reactions? Which metal is the
cathode? (Use the Standard Reduction Potentials table shown above)
a. –2.25 V, Pb is the cathode d. +2.25 V, Pb is the cathode
b. +2.25 V, Mg is the cathode e. –2.49 V, Mg is the cathode
c. –2.25 V, Mg is the cathode

34. What is the standard cell potential for a voltaic cell using the Al3+/Al and Fe3+/Fe half-reactions? Which metal is the
anode? (Use the Standard Reduction Potentials table shown above)
a. –2.43 V, Al is the anode d. +0.89 V, Fe is the anode
b. +2.43 V, Al is the anode e. None of the above
c. –0.89 V, Fe is the anode

35. Using the Table of Standard Reduction Potentials table shown above, which is the strongest oxidizing agent?

a. Pb4+ d. K
b. Pb2+ e. Al
c. K+

36. Using the Table of Standard Reduction Potentials table shown above, which is the strongest reducing agent?

a. Pb4+ d. K
b. Pb2+ e. Al
c. K+

37. Use the Table of Standard Reduction Potentials table, which species would react with Fe?
a. Pb4+ only d. Both Pb4+ and Au3+
b. Au3+ only e. Both Pb2+ and Au
c. I2 and Pb2+

38. Use the Table of Standard Reduction Potentials table, which species would react with Al3+?
a. Pb only d. Both Mg+2 and K+
b. Au3+ only e. Both Mg and K
c. Fe and Pb

39. Using the Table of Standard Reduction Potentials table shown above, what is the standard cell potential for an
electrochemical cell that has iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) electrodes? Also, identify the cathode.

a. +3.14 V with Fe as the cathode d. –3.14 V with Mg as the cathode

b. +3.14 V with Mg as the cathode e. +1.60 V with Fe as the cathode
c. –3.14 V with Fe as the cathode
 12
Electrolysis: Key Equations: Mol e– = [A • time (sec)/96,500] time (sec)= mol e • 96,500/current (in A)

62. Copper metal (63.546 g/mol) is purified by electrolysis. How much copper metal (in grams) could be produced from
copper(II) oxide by applying a current of 10.0 amps at the appropriate negative potential for 12.0 hours?
a. 284 g d. 14.2 g
b. 142 g e. 4.48 g
c. 28.4 g

63. How long would it take to electroplate a flute with 28.3 g of silver (107.87 g/mol) at a constant current of 2.0 amps
using AgNO3?
a. 211 min d. 1688 min
b. 422 min e. 105 min
c. 844 min

64. How many grams of aluminum metal (26.982 g/mol) can be produced by the electrolysis of Al2O3 using a current of
100 amperes for 24 hours?
a. 805 d. 2.2 × 1013
b. 2,400 e. 7.5 × 1012
c. 8.1 x 105

65. If in using a lead-acid battery to start a car, 1.00 gram of Pb (207.2 g/mol) is consumed on the anode, how long will it
take to recharge the battery, using a current of 0.500 amperes to turn the PbSO4 that was produced back into Pb?
a. 15.5 min d. 21 min
b. 1864 min e. 42 min
c. 31 min

66. Chromium often is electroplated on other metals and even plastics to produce a shiny metallic appearance. How many
grams of chromium (51.996 g/mol) would plate out from a solution of Cr(NO3)3 when 10 amps of current are passed
through the electrolytic cell for 5.36 hours?
a. 17.3 g d. 104 g
b. 34.7 g e. 11.6 g
c. 52.0 g

67. Suppose an aluminum (26.982 g/mol) beer can weighs 40.0 g. For how long would a current of 100.0 amp need to be
passed through a molten AlF3 electrolysis cell to produce enough aluminum to replace a discarded beer can?
a. 4.44 hr d. 42.7 min
b. 23.8 min e. 2.38 hr
c. 1.19 hr