GUJARAT PUBLIC

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,
WAGHODIA

1
 Introduction
C
O Theory

N Objective
T
E Requirements

N Procedure and Observations

T
S Conclusion

Precautions

Bibliography

2
 INTRODUCTION

Electro Chemical Cell

Whenever a redox reaction is allowed to take

place directly in a single beaker, it is found
that the solution becomes hot. For example,
when a zinc is placed in a copper solution, the
solution is found to be warmer as the reaction
proceeds according to the equation.
Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)
Similar results are observed when a rod of
copper is placed in silver solution. The
reaction taking place as follows:
Cu(s) + 2 AgNO3 CuNO3 + 2Ag
Thus, we conclude that whenever a redox
takes place directly in a single beaker,
chemical energy in the form of heat is
produced. By suitable means it is possible to
bring out the redox reaction indirectly so as to
convert the chemical energy into the electrical
energy.

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Representation of an
Electrochemical Cell

An electrochemical cell is represented in

a manner as illustrated below.
Zn / Zn2+ || Cu2+ / Cu
i.e. by convention, the electrode on which
oxidation takes place is written on the left-
hand side and the other electrode on
which reduction takes place is written on
the right-hand side. The electrode of the
left-hand side is written by writing the
symbol of the metal first followed by the
symbol of the ion with its concentration in
brackets. The electrode on the right-hand
side is written by first writing the ion along
with its concentration in brackets
followed by the symbol of the metal.

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TYPES OF ELECTROCHEMICAL
CELLS

Galvanic Cell

Galvanic Cell is named after Luigi Galvani

an Italian scientist. A galvanic cell is an
important electrochemical cell that forms
the base of many other electrochemical
cells like the Daniell cell. It constitutes of
two different metallic conductors called
electrodes immersed in their own ionic
solutions. Each of these arrangements is
a half cell. Alone, a half cell is not able to
generate a potential difference. But
combined, they generate a potential
difference. A salt bridge is used to
combine the two cells chemically. It
serves the required number of electrons
to the electron-deficient half-cell and
accepts electrons from the electron-rich
half-cell.

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Daniel Cell

Daniel cell is an adaptation of the galvanic

cell. It is constituted of zinc and copper
electrodes immersed in zinc sulphate and
copper sulphate solutions respectively.
Two half cells are connected together
using a salt bridge. The zinc electrode as
anode and copper act as cathode.
The zinc metal is top in the
electrochemical series when comparing
to the copper metal, owing to the higher
value of the oxidation potential of the
metal. Hence, zinc undergoes oxidation,
consequently, two electrons and a zinc
ion are generated. This electrode
acquires a negative potential due to the
release of electrons when comparing to
the other electrode. We call it an anode.
However, copper undergoes reduction,
owing to its higher reduction potential.
The copper ion in the solution of the
copper half-cell accepts two electrons
from the electrode and becomes copper
metal and gets deposited in the electrode.

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Anode reaction is represented as follows:
Zn(s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e–
The cathode reaction is represented as
follows:
Cu2+ (aq) +2e– → Cu(s)
The combined cell reaction or overall cell
reaction is as follows:
Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu(s)

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 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
A zinc rod is placed in the zinc sulphate
solution taken in a beaker. A copper rod is
placed in the copper sulphate solution
taken in another beaker. The two rods are
connected by a wire and two solutions are
connected by a salt bridge

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 Salt Bridge and Its Function
A salt-bridge is a U-shaped tube containing
concentrated solution of an inert electrolyte like
KCl, KNO3, K2SO4 etc. An inert electrolyte is one
whose ions do not take part in the redox reaction
and also do not react with electrolyte used. The
function of the salt bridge is to allow the movement
of the ions from one solution to the other without
mixing of the two solutions. Thus, whereas the
electrons flow in the outer circuit in the wire, the
inner circuit is completed by the flow of ions from
one solution to the other through the salt bridge
moreover, it helps to maintain the electrical
neutrality of the solution of the two half cells.
Thus, the main functions of the salt bridge are:
(i) To complete the electrical circuit by allowing the
ions to flow form one solution to the other without
mixing of the two solutions.
(ii) To maintain the electrical neutrality of the
solutions in the two half cells.

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 Standard EMF of an
Electrochemical Cell
An electrochemical cell is based on reaction
which can be split into the two half reactions:
(i) Oxidation half reaction
(ii) Reduction half reaction
Standard EMF of the cell:
Where, Ecell= Electrode Potential of the cell
Ecathode = Electrode Potential of the
reduction half reaction
Eanode = Electrode Potential of the oxidation
half reaction
According to Nernst Equation, the relation
between concentration of electrode and the
standard electrode potential can be given as:

Where,
E = Electrode Potential at non-standard
conditions

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E˚ = Electrode Potential at standard conditions
n = Number of electrons transferred in the
equation
[M] = concentration of the metal
[M¬n+] = concentration of metal ion

Some Important Features:-

Above cell may be summed up as follows:-
i) The electrode at which oxidation takes place
is called the anode. The electrode at which the
reduction takes place is called the cathode.
ii) Since electrons are produced at the zinc
electrodes, this electrode is rich in electrons,
which pushes the electrons into the external
circuit and hence it is designated as the
negative pole. The other electrode, i.e., the
copper electrode is in the need of electrons
for the reduction of Cu2+ ions into the Cu, i.e.,
this electrode is deficient in electrons and
pulls the electrons from the external circuit,
therefore it acts as the positive pole.

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iii) The electrons flow from the negative pole
to the positive pole in the external circuit.
However, conventionally, this current is set to
flow in the opposite direction.
iv) The oxidation of Zn into ions produces
excess of Zn2+ ions in the left beaker. This
creates an unbalanced positive charge in the
solution. To maintain electrical neutrality of
the solution in the two beakers, the cations
and anions move through the salt bridge.
v) As copper from copper sulphate solution is
deposited on the copper electrode and
sulphate ions migrate to the other side, the
concentration of the copper sulphate solution
decreases. As the cell operates consequently,
the current falls.
vi) Evidently, the weight of the copper rod will
increase while that of zinc rod will decrease
as the cell works.

12
 Experiment

Objective: - To study electrochemical

principles on any electrochemical cell.

Requirements: -

13
 Procedure: -
• Take two clean beakers.
• In one beaker take 1 M copper sulphate
solution and in the other take 1 M zinc
sulphate solution.
• Take a copper strip and clean it using a
sand paper.
• Dip the copper strip into the beaker
containing the 1 M copper sulphate
solution.
• Similarly, take a zinc strip and clean it using
a sand paper.
• Then dip it into the beaker containing 1 M
zinc sulphate solution.
• Take a salt bridge and connect the two
solutions using the salt bridge.
• Take a voltmeter and connect the copper
strip to the positive terminal and the zinc
strip to the negative terminal using
connecting wires.
• Note the position of the pointer in the
voltmeter and record the reading.
• Repeat the experiment by taking different
concentrations of zinc sulphate and copper
sulphate solutions.

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 Observations: -
Concentration of ZnSO4 solution (M) Concentration of CuSO4 solution (M) EMF of the Cell (V)

0.5 M 0.5 M 0.98V

0.25 M 0.5 M 0.81V

0.25 M 0.25 M 0.90V

Conclusion: -

EMF of the cell increases with decrease in

concentration of the electrolyte around the
anode and increase in concentration of the
electrolyte around cathode.

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 Precautions: -

• The concentration of copper sulphate

and zinc sulphate should neither be too
low nor too high.
• Clean the zinc strip and copper strip
with sand paper before use.
• Connect the copper strip to the positive
terminal and the zinc strip to the
negative terminal of the voltmeter.
• The two half cells should be connected
using a salt bridge.
• Note the reading only when the pointer
becomes stable.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Chemistry Part-I, Textbook for class

XII
2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniell_
cell

3.https://www.google.com/

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