Experiment : Voltaic Cells

Aim: To show the production of electricity from

chemical reactions in a simple voltaic cell.
Problem statement: Can electricity be produced
by the chemical reactions in a simple voltaic cell?
Hypothesis: When two different metals are
dipped into an electrolyte and connected by wires,
electricity is produced.
Variables: (i) Manipulated variable: Two different
metals used.
(ii) Responding variable: Flow of
electric current.
(iii) Fixed variable: Electrolyte used.
Operational definition: When an electric current
is produced, the voltmeter shows a reading.
Apparatus: Connecting wires with crocodile clips,
beaker, sandpaper, and voltmeter.
Materials: Magnesium ribbon, copper plate, 1 mol
dm-3 sodium chloride, NaCl solution.
Procedure: (Diagram Figure 6.13 Set-up of a
simple voltaic cell page.74)

1.A piece of magnesium ribbon and a copper

plate were cleaned with a piece of sandpaper.
2.The two pieces of metals were connected using
connecting wires as shown in the diagram.
3.The reading of the voltmeter and any changes
at the electrodes were recorded.
4.Steps 1 to 3 were repeated using the copper
plate instead of the magnesium ribbon.
Data and Observation:
Electrodes
used
Magnesium
ribbon and
copper plate
( Mg/Cu)

Copper plate
and copper
plate
(Cu/Cu)

Voltmeter
reading
(V)
2.7

0.0

Observation Inferences
s
Magnesium
ribbon
dissolves and
becomes
thinner.
Bubbles of a
colourless
gas are
released
around the
copper plate.
No changes
at the
electrodes.

Electricity is
produced.
Chemical
reactions
occur.

Electricity is
not
produced.
No chemical
reactions

occur.
Discussion:
1. Which of the simple voltaic cells that you
have constructed showed the production
of electricity? How did you find out?
The cell that consists of a copper plate and a
piece of magnesium ribbon as the electrodes.
The reading of the voltmeter shows the
production of electricity.
2. For the simple voltaic cell that you have
stated in Question 1,
a) state how the electricity was produced.
The electricity was produced from the chemical
reactions in the simple voltaic cell. The flow of
electrons from the magnesium ribbon to the copper
plate results in the production of electricity.
(b) what are the chemical changes that occur
at the magnesium ribbon and the copper
plate?
Each magnesium atom donates two electrons to
form a magnesium ion, Mg2+. The hydrogen ions, H+
are selectively discharged at the copper plate by
accepting electrons to form hydrogen gas,H2 .

(c ) write the half equation for the changes that

occur at each of the electrodes.
(i)At the magnesium ribbon: Mg Mg2+ + 2e(ii)At the copper plate: 2H+ + 2e- H2

Conclusion: The chemical reactions in a simple

voltaic cell produce electricity. No current will flow
if both electrodes were made of the same metal.
Therefore, the hypothesis is accepted.