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Applications of Electrochemistry – Faraday’s Law

Faraday’s Law: the amount of a substance produced or consumed in an electrolysis reaction is

directly proportional to the quantity of electricity that flows through the circuit.

Electrical measurements:

Electric current – flow of electrons through an external current, I

- measured in units of Ampere (A)

Electric charge – quantity of electricity, Q

- the product of the current flowing through a circuit by the amount of time it flows
- measured in units of Coulomb (C)

Coulomb: the quantity of electricity that flows through a circuit in one second if
the current is one ampere ie. 1 A = 1C/s

This relationship can also be expressed mathematically by:

Charge (coulomb) = current (in ampere) x time (in seconds)

or
Q = It

Example:
Find the quantity of electricity that results from a current of 3.50 A flowing for 6.00 min.

Q = It
Q = 3.50 A x 6.00 min x ( 60 s / 1 min)
Q = 1.26 x 103 C

Electrochemical Stoichiometry:

The equation for an electrode reaction relates the number of moles of substance consumed or
produced during the reaction to the quantity of charge that passes through the cell

Ag+(aq) + 1e- 6 Ag(s) In order to produce one mole of solid silver one mole of electrons
must be picked up by one mole of silver ions.

Au3+(aq) + 3e- 6 Au (s) To produce one mole of solid gold three moles of electrons must be
picked up by one mole of gold ions.

• To perform stoichiometric calculations for electrochemical and electrolytic cells we also need to
know the charge on one mole of electrons.

• The charge on one mole of electrons is one Faraday (1 F) or 96500 C

• Normally, the rounded number 96 500 C/mol is used in calculations involving Faraday’s
constant. Note that this number only has three significant figures.

Moles of electrons, ne = Q/F ie. n = charge/ charge per mole of electrons

• Since Q = It then ne = (I t)/F

Ie. ne = current(A) x time/ charge per mole of electrons

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To Calculate the Mass of an Electrolysis Product:

Steps:

1. Find the total moles of electrons that passed through the circuit using ne = (I t)/F or ne =
Q/F
2. Find the total moles of metal produced using the half-reaction and mole ratio nR = nG x R/G
3. Convert the moles of metal to mass using m=nM

Example 1:
Calculate the mass of zinc plated onto the cathode of an electrolytic cell by a current of 750 mA in
3.25 h.
Zn2+(aq) + 2e- 6 Zn(s)

I = 750 mA = 0.750 A
t = 3.25 h x (60 min/1 h) x (60 s / 1 min) = 1.17 x 104 s
F = 96 500 C/mol

Step 1: ne = (I t) / F = (0.750 A x 1.17 x 104 s) / 96 500 C/mol

= 0.0909 mol e- ( this is the total moles of electrons)

Step 2: G R
Zn2+(aq) + 2e- 6 Zn(s)

nR = nG x R/G = 0.0909 mol e- x 1/2

n Zn(s) = 0.0455 mol of Zn produced

Step 3: m = nM
m = 0.0455 mol x 65.39 g/mol
m = 2.98 g

Example 2
How many grams of gold will be deposited when 5000 C pass through a solution by the following
equation.
AuCl4-(aq) + 3e- 6 Au (s) + 4Cl-(aq)

Q = 5000 C
F = 96 500 C/mol

Step 1: ne = Q/F

n = 5000 C
96 500xC/mol
n = 0.0518 moles of electrons

Step 2: G R
-
AuCl4 (aq) + 3e- 6 Au (s) + 4Cl-(aq)

nR = nG x R/G = 0.0518 mol e- x 1/3

n Au(s) = 0.0173 mol of Au(s) will be produced

Step 3:
m = nM
m = 0.0173 mol x 196.97 g/mol
m = 3.41 g
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Example 3:
Calculate the moles of Mg produced when a current of 60 amps is passed through a magnesium
chloride solution for 4.00 h.
Mg2+(aq) + 2e- 6 Mg (s)

I = 60 A F = 96 500 C/mol
t = 4.00 h

Step 1: ne = It/F

n = (60 A)(1.44 x 104 s)

96 500 C/mol
n = 8.95 mol of e-

Step 2: G R
Mg 2+
(aq) + 2e- 6 Mg (s)

nR = nG x R/G = 8.95 mol e- x 1/2

n Mg(s) = 4.48 mol of Mg produced

Step 3: m = nM
m = 4.48 mol x 24.32 g/mol
m = 109 g

Example 3:
How many hours would it take for a 3.50 A current to electroplate 129 g of gold according to the
following equation.
Au(CN)2-(aq) + e- 6 Au(s) + 2CN-(aq)

I = 3.50 A
m = 129 g
F = 96 500 C/mol
t= ?

To solve for time, rearrange the equation n= It/F such that t = nF/I and convert mass to moles.

Step 1: Convert mass of gold to moles of gold

n = m/M
n = 129/ 196.97 g/mol
n =0.655 mol of gold

Step 2: Convert moles of gold to moles of electrons

Au(CN)2-(aq) + e- 6 Au (s) + 2CN-(aq)

nR = nG x R/G = 0.655 mol e- x 1/1

n = 0.655 mol e-

Step 3: Determine the time

t = neF/I
t = 0.655 mol x 96 500 C/mol
3.50 A
t = 1.81 x 105 s
t = 5.02 h
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ELECTROCHEMISTRY WORKSHEET #7

1. Calculate the minimum time, in seconds, required to deposit 40.0 g of copper at the cathode of
an electrolysis cell containing CuSO4(aq) using a current of 20 000 mA.

2. How many minutes does it take to plate 0.925 g of silver onto the cathode of an electrolytic cell
using a current of 1.55 A?

3. The nickel anode in an electrolytic cell decreases in mass by 1.20 g in 35.5 min. The oxidation
half-reaction converts nickel atoms to nickel (III) ions. What is the constant current?

4. The following two half-reactions take place in an electrolytic cell with an iron anode and a
chromium cathode.

Fe(s) 6 Fe2+(aq) + 2e-

Cr 3+
(aq) + 3e- 6 Cr (s)

During the process, the mass of the iron anode decreases by 1.75 g.
Find the change in mass of the chromium cathode.

5. A student wishes to set up an electrolytic cell to plate copper onto a belt buckle. Predict the
length of time it will take to plate out 2.5 g of copper from a copper (II) nitrate solution using a
2.5 A current. At which electrode should the belt buckle be attached?

6. Determine the mass of chlorine produced when a 200 A current flows for 24.0 h through a cell
containing molten sodium chloride. At which electrode is the chlorine produced?

7. A trophy company is setting up a nickel plating cell using an electrolyte containing nickel (III)
ions. Predict the current required to produce metal at a rate of 5.00 g/min.

8. In the electrolysis of a molten group II metal chloride 2.50 A of constant current is passed
through a cell for 1.28 hours. Use the information provided below to determine the identity of
the group II metal.

Mass of cathode before application of current: 25.720 g

Mass of cathode after application of current: 30.949 g