ELECTROCHEMISTRY: INTRODUCTION TO GALVANIC CELLS AND NERNST EQUATION

Andrea Lyka H. Dela Cruz, Tinuviel M. Esguerra, Zyra Fem C. Flores, Kherson P. Gandola
University of Santo Tomas
Faculty of Pharmacy Department of Biochemistry
2C Biochemistry Group 4
Chemistry 302 Laboratory

ABSTRACT
As the title implies, the experiment is focused on galvanic cells and the Nernst equation. A galvanic cell is
an electrochemical cell that derives electrical energy from spontaneous redox reactions taking place
within the cell. On the other hand, the Nernst equation calculates the equilibrium potential for an ion
based on the charge on the ion and its concentration gradient across the membrance. The experiment
proper is divided into three. The first part is the redox reactions where some solutions used reacted on
the metal submerged into it where it resulted into colored solutions and with the formation of
precipitate while others remained as is. The second part is the cell potentials where all the results are
positive. Last but not the least is the Nernst equation. It can be concluded that the the concentration of
the cell and cell potential has a direct relationship with each other.

INTRODUCTION
A galvanic cell, or voltaic cell, named
after Luigi Galvani, or Alessandro
Volta respectively, is an electrochemical
cell that derives electrical energy from
spontaneous redox reactions taking place
within the cell. It generally consists of two
different metals connected by a salt bridge,
which separates the two compartment cells
preventing short circuits and maintains
electroneutrality.

A galvanic cell consists of at least two half

The Nernst equation, or also known as Nernst
cells, a reduction cell and an oxidation cell.
potential, calculates the equilibrium potential
Chemical reactions in the two half cells provide
for an ion based on the charge on the ion and
the energy for the galvanic cell operations.
its concentration gradient across the
Many galvanic cells are of commercial
membrane. Temperature also influences the
importance. These include dry cells, mercury
Nernst potential. A Nernst potential will
cells, rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries, fuel cells
develop across a membrane if two criteria are
and lead storage cells. A common galvanic cell is
met. First is if a concentration gradient exists
the Daniell cell.
across the membrane for a given ion and
second, if selective permeation pathways such
as the selective ion channels exist that allow
transmembrane movement of the ion of
interest. Finally, for selective ion channels,
where the selectivity filter strongly favors the
permeation of one ion over other ions, the
Nernst potential also predicts the reversal and by using a voltmeter, their potential values
potential of the current-voltage relationship. were calculated.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Redox reactions

Table 1.Reactions
1.0 M 1.0 M 1.0 M
Figure 2. The Nernst equation
Cu(NO3)2 Zn(NO3)2 Pb(NO3)2
Cu(s) no clear clear
OBJECTIVE
reaction solution solution
The objectives of the said experiment are as
Zn(s) green no formation
follows:
soln with reaction of black
1. To review the principles of redox reactions
ppt deposit
and galvanic cells
Pb(s) darkening clear no
2. To relate the effect of concentration to the
of metal solution reaction
cell potential using the Nernst equation
strip
METHODOLOGY
After five minutes of being submerged in the
A. Redox Reactions
The members of the group polished three different solutions, some resulted into different
strips of Cu, Zn and Pb each using a sand paper. colors of solutions, other produced a precipitate
With the aid of a microwell plate, three columns while others remained clear.
were filled with 1.0 M Cu(NO3)2, 1.0 M Zn(NO3)2,
and 1.0 M Pb(NO3)2 solutions. The polished B. Cell Potentials
metal strips were submerged in the three Zn(s) | Zn(NO3)2(aq) || Cu(NO3)2(aq) | Cu(s) 0.852 V
solutions for five minutes.
Zn(s) | Zn(NO3)2(aq) || Pb(NO3)2(aq) | Pb(s) 0.476 V
B. Cell Potentials
Pb(NO3)2(aq) | Pb(s) || Cu(NO3)2(aq) | Cu(s) 0.455 V
Three strips of Cu, Zn, and Pb wires were
polished. The same solutions used in the first
part of the experiment were filled in the same Listed on the table above are the reactions and
microwell plate and the three strips were potentials of the given solutions.
submerged into it once again. Long strips of
filter paper were cut and soaked into 1.0 M KCl C. Nernst Equation Effect of Concentration
solution. That served as the salt bridge that was
placed between two solution-filled adjacent Table 3.E versus ln[Cu2+]
wells. With the use of two polished copper Cu(NO3)2 ln(Cu(NO3)2) E cell
wires and a voltmeter, the cell potentials were
measured. 1.00 M 0 1.00 V

C. Nernst Equation Effect of Concentration 0.10 M -2.30 1.0704 V

Dilute solutions of 0.1 M, 0.01 M, 0.001 M and 0.01 M -4.61 1.0408 V
0.0001 M of Cu(NO3)2 were prepared. Polished
copper wire, zinc metal and salt bridges were 0.001 M -6.90 1.0112 V
prepared. Separate galvanic cells of the
0.0001 M -9.21 0.9816 V
different solutions were labeled and prepared
Based on the table, the concentration of the cell
and cell potential has a direct relationship with
each other.

CONCLUSION
On the experiment done by the group,
entitled Galvanic Cells and the Nernst Equation,
the two objectives were successfully meet. The
principles of redox reactions and galvanic cells
were used to obtain the cell potential needed.
On the other hand,the Nernst equation was
used in order to calculate the cell potentials.

REFERENCES
Skoog, D.A., West, D.M., Holler, F.J., &
Crouch, S.R. (2016). Fundamentals of
Analytical Chemistry 9th Edition
Galvanic cells and electrodes. Retrieved
02/25/17 from
https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_
Maps/General_Chemistry_Textbook_M
aps/Map%3A_Chem1_(Lower)/24%3A_
Electrochemistry/24.2%3A_Galvanic_ce
lls_and_electrodes
Galvanic cells. Retrieved 02/25/17 from
http://www.sparknotes.com/chemistry
/electrochemistry/galvanic/section2.rht
ml
Electrochemical cell. Retrieved
02/25/17
http://chemcollective.org/chem/electro
chem/step2_cell.php
Electrochemical cell potentials.
Retrieved 02/26/17
http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/
howtosolveit/Electrochem/Electrochem
ical_Cell_Potentials.htm