EXPERIMENT NO.

GALVANIC CELLS, THE NERNST EQUATION

Name: Adrian Niel B. Casabar Program / Year: CE-1

Course / Section: CM101L DOP: JUNE 25, 2019
Group Number: 6 DOS: JULY 16, 2019

Grade:
PDS: /40
Cover: /10
Objective: /10
Report Sheet: /10
E. S. Espiritu Discussion and
Professor Conclusion: /20
 EXPERIMENT NO.4

GALVANIC CELLS, THE NERNST EQUATION

Objectives:

1. To measure the relative reduction potential for number of

half cell (redox) couples in a galvanic cell.

2. To develop an understanding of the movement of

electrons, anions and cations in a galvanic cell

3. To study factors affecting cell potentials

4. To estimate the concentration of ions in solution using the

Nernst equation.
 I. REPORT SHEET
Calculations
Table 1 Reduction Potentials of Several Redox Couples

Galvanic 𝑬𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍 Equation for Anode Half- Equation for Cathode Half-
Anode Cathode
Cell Measured Reaction Reaction

Cu-Zn 0.742 Zn 𝑍𝑛 → 𝑍𝑛2+ + 2𝑒 − Cu 𝐶𝑢2+ + 2𝑒 − → 𝐶𝑢

Cu-Fe 1.010 Fe 𝐹𝑒 → 𝐹𝑒 2+ + 2𝑒 − Cu 𝐶𝑢2+ + 2𝑒 − → 𝐶𝑢

Zn-Fe 0.046 Zn 𝑍𝑛 → 𝑍𝑛2+ + 2𝑒 − Fe 𝐹𝑒 2+ + 2𝑒 − → 𝐹𝑒

Table 2. Reduction Potentials in Experimental and Thoeretical

𝑬𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍 Reduction
For the Redox Reduction Potential
Galvanic Cell Potential % Error
Measured Couple (experimental)
(theoretical)

Cu-Zn 1.025 𝐶𝑢2+ /𝐶𝑢 0.24 V 0.31 V 22.58 %

Zn-Fe 0.34 𝐹𝑒 2+ /𝐹𝑒 -0.48 V -0.47 V 2.11 %

Table 3 The Nernst Equaton of the Concentration, Cu(NO3)2

Solution Concentration of 𝑬𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝑬𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍

-log[Cu2+], pCu
Number Cu(NO3)2 experimental calculated

1 0.1 mol/ L 0.008 1 1.15V

2 1.0 mol / L 0.022 0 1.12V

3 1.0 mol / L 0.017 0 1.12V

4 1.0 mol / L 0.073 0 1.12V
 Table 1 shows the data that the group gathered while doing the experiment. The group
measured the Ecell by using the multimeter to obtain the potential difference of the elements. To
obtain the equation for anode and cathode half-reaction. The group determined which is cathode
or anode in the compound. The group determined that Zn is the anode and the cathode is the Cu,
because the electrons of Cu is coming from Zn, so the Cu2+ electrons is being reduced. Table 2
shows the data of Reduction potential obtained by the group. In order to calculate the Reduction
potential, the group used this equation,

𝑅𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 − 𝑅𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙

From this equation, the group obtained the Reduction Potential (Experimental). Additionally, the
group computed for the percent of error of the theoretical and experimental values using the
formula,
𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 − 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙
% 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑥 100
𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙

From which, the results that the group acquire is almost close enough form the theoretical.
Lastly, table 3 shows the concentration of the Cu(NO3)2 , to obtain -log[Cu2+], pCu, the group
used the equation

0.0592
E𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = E°𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 − 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 + 𝑝𝐶𝑢
2

To acquire the 𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 calculated the group used the formula,

Results and Discussion

This will tackle the results of the reduction potentials of several redox couples. There are 3

galvanic cells in this experiment. The first galvanic cell is Cu-Zn, the value of the measured Ecell

of it is 0.81V. Its anode is the element, Zn and the equation for anode half-reaction is Zn  Zn2+

+ 2e-. While the cathode is Cu and the equation for its half-reaction is Cu2+ + 2e- --> Cu (s). The

second galvanic cell is Cu-Fe, the measure Ecell is 1.02V. Its anode is Fe and the equation for

half reaction of it is Fe  Fe2+ + 2e-. While the cathode is also the Cu and the equation of half

reaction of it is just the same to the first one. Last galvanic cell is Zn-Fe, the measured Ecell is

0.2V. The anode is Zn and the equation for the half-reaction is Zn  Zn2+ + 2e- while the

cathode is Fe and the equation of its half-reaction is Fe2+ + 2e- --> Fe.

This is discussion about the redox couple of the said galvanic cells, its reduction potential

which is experimental and theoretical, and the percent error. The galvanic cell Cu-Zn, the redox

couple of it is Cu2+ /Cu, the experimental reduction potential of it is 0.24 while the theoretical is

0.31. However, the percent error is 22.58%. The second galvanic cell is Zn-Fe the redox couple

of it is Fe2+/Fe, the experimental reduction potential of it -0.48 while the theoretical is -0.47. The

percent error it this is lower compared to the first one, it is 2.11% only.
Recommendations

This experiment conducted by each group with limited time only so it made us to put more effort

in observing and also to think critically in fastest way. The reason of having a limited time is

because of the limited equipment, so it easier if there is more equipment in doing that

experiment, and it can also give an accurate data if this experiment has more trials.

Conclusion

The first galvanic cell is Cu-Zn, its anode is the element, Zn and the equation for anode

half-reaction is Zn  Zn2+ + 2e-, while the cathode is Cu and the equation for its half-reaction is

Cu2+ + 2e- --> Cu (s). The second galvanic cell is Cu-Fe, Its anode is Fe and the equation for

half reaction of it is Fe  Fe2+ + 2e- , while the cathode is also the Cu and the equation of half

reaction of is the same as the first cell. The last galvanic cell is Zn-Fe, its anode is Zn and the

equation for the half-reaction is Zn  Zn2+ + 2e- , while the cathode is Fe and the equation of its

half-reaction is Fe2+ + 2e- --> Fe. These are the results of the reduction potentials of several

redox couples.