Determination of Electrode Potentials

R. Raganit
National Institute of Geological Sciences, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101

Performed 3 July 2017; Submitted 5 July 2017

Answers to Questions 2 Br Br2 + 2e-

2 I I2 + 2e-
1. Discuss the differences between galvanic and
electrolytic cells. In the cathode, the formation of bubbles signifies
the reduction of water.
A galvanic cell (also called as voltaic cell) is a
device that produces electrical energy through the 2 H2O(l) O2(g) + 4 H+(aq) + 4e-
chemical reactions that happen within it - namely,
oxidation and reduction1. On the other hand, in an 5. Based on the calculated values, what are the most
electrolytic cell, energy is needed as an input in order to
effective reducing and oxidizing agents?
make the nonspontaneous reaction inside the cell happen2.

2. What is the measured value of E cell for each cell and

Based on the calculated E r ed values, the one with
its relevance to the E red for the iron half-cell and
the highest value is Br, while the one with the lowest is Zn.
halogen half-cells? Since having a higher E red values indicates a greater
capacity to reduce, we can conclude that the most effective
Ecell for Zn | Zn2+ || Cu2+ | Cu:
oxidizing agent is Br and the most effective reducing agent
= (0.34 V) (-0.65V) = 0.99 V is Zn. In order, from most effective oxidizing agent to least:
Ecell for C | Fe2+ | Fe3+ || Cu2+ | Cu:
Br > Fe > I > Cu > Zn
= (0.87 V) (0.34 V) = 0.53 V
6. Are values of standard reduction potentials helpful
Ecell for Cu | Cu2+ || Br- | Br2 | C
in determining the spontaneity of a reaction?
= (0.945 V) (0.34 V) = 0.605 V

Ecell for Cu | Cu2+ || I-| I2 |C Yes because the spontaneity of a reaction depends
= (0.444 V) (0.34 V) = 0.104 V on the direction or sign of the standard reduction
potentials. If the standard reduction potential is positive, it
Based on the calculated values, the relationship indicates that the reaction will move forward and is
between the Ecell and the E red can be observed as the therefore, spontaneous3.
higher the Ecell value is, the greater the E red is as well. This
means that as the Ecell value goes up, the ability of the half- 7. What are the possible sources of error and their
cell to reduce goes up too. effect on the calculated parameters? Rationalize.

3. Compare the calculated E red for each half-cell with The possible errors in the experiment may lie in
their literature value.
the solution preparation. Examples of these errors include
the deviation of the concentrations of the solutions used in
Table 1. Determination of Standard Reduction Potentials the experiment from the ideal concentration (1 M for
standard conditions). Another possible source of error is
Half-cell Exp. E red Book E red the multimeter which should be checked properly before
Zn2+ | Zn -0.65 -0.763 using. A broken or not properly working multimeter will
Fe3+ | Fe2+ | C + 0.87 +0.771 give erroneous data that might render the experiment
Br- | Br2 | C +0.945 +1.087 unusable.
I-| I2 |C +0.444 +0.615
References
Based on the calculated standard reduction
potentials, Zn has a percentage error of 14.81%, 12.84% [1] Daintith, John Martin, Elizabeth. (2010). Dictionary
for Fe, 13.06% for Br, and 27.8% for I-. of Science (6th Edition). Oxford University Press.

4. Based on your observations, what are the half [2] Shapley, P. (2012). Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells.
reactions which occur at the anode and cathode during Retrieved July 4, 2017, from
the electrolysis? http://butane.chem.uiuc.edu/pshapley/genchem2/c6/1.ht
ml
In the anode, the oxidation of halides, Br and I, can [3] Skoog, D.A. (2004). Fundamentals of Analytical
be observed. The oxidation was characterized by the Chemistry (8th Ed.). USA: Thomson Brooks/Cole
change in color from colorless to a yellowish-brown color
of the solution.