CHAPTER 6

ELECTROCHEMISTRY

(E)
VOLTAIC CELLS (GALVANIC CELL)

VOLTAIC CELL
CHEMICAL ELECTRICAL ENERGY ENERGY KNOWN AS A GALVANIC CELL TWO DIFFERENT METAL RODS (ELECTRODES) ARE IMMERSED IN AN ELECTROLYTE

 THE REACTIONS BETWEEN THE ELECTRODES AND THE ELECTROLYTE PRODUCE A POTENSIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO EELCTRODES

STRUCTURE OF A VOLTAIC CELL

MAGNESIUM RIBBON

COPPER PLATE

SODIUM CHLORIDE, NaCl

- The more electropositive metal will ionise by losing electrons and becomes negative terminal [anode] - The electrons are taken by the less electropositive metal and becomes positive terminal [cathode] - Electrons pass from the anode to cathode through external circuit

Investigating the simple voltaic cell

COPPER PLATE
Observation

MAGNESIUM RIBBON
SODIUM CHLORIDE,NaCl Type of metal Magnesium / copper Voltmeter reading (V)

Magnesium electrode dissolvesBubbles of gas produced at copper cathode

Copper / copper

No changes at the electrode

How does a voltaic cell work?

Voltmeter

Electron flow

Magnesium ribbon Mg Mg
2 +

Copper plate 2H+ + 2e Sodium chloride, NaCl solution H2

+ 2e

Overall equation : Mg + 2H+

Mg2+ + H2

DANIELL CELL
ZINC and COPPER as electrodes ZINC (anode) & COPPER (cathode) Each metal immersed into a solution of its ion Two solutions are connected through a salt bridge or porous pot

The purposes of salt bridge or porous pot

1. Complete the circuit by allowing the ions move from one solution to another 2. Separate the two electrolytes 3. Prevent the zinc from reacting directly with copper (II) sulphate solution

What is a salt bridge?

A salt bridge is actually a filter paper soaked in a concentrated solution that will not react with the electrolyte. The common solutions used are potassium nitrate and potassium chloride

 The porous pot is more commonly used because the distance of the ions have to travel Porous pot is less

Salt bridge Zinc sulphate solution Copper (II) sulphate solution

Zinc

Copper

Zinc sulphate solution

Porous pot

Copper (II) sulphate solution

ELECTROCHEMISTRY REACTIVE METAL ANODE DONATE ELECTRON LESS REACTIVE METAL CATHODE ACCEPT ELECTRON

Zn

Cu

K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Sn Pb H Cu Ag

Reactivity decrease

Reactions in the Daniell cell

1. Zinc atoms lose electrons to produce zinc ions 2. Zinc ions go into zinc sulphate solution

3. The electrons travel through the wire in the external circuit to the copper electrode

Reactions in the Daniell cell

4. At the copper electrode, the electrons are taken by Cu2+ ions in the copper (II) sulphate solution 5. Copper metal is deposited on the electrode 6. The overall chemical equation:

ELECTROCHEMISTRY REACTIVE METAL, Zn ANODE

DONATE ELECTRON Z Zn2+ + 2e

LESS REACTIVE METAL, Cu CATHODE

ACCEPT ELECTRON

Cu2+ + 2e

Cu

Zinc electrode dissolve

Copper become bigger

Zn Cu

K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Sn Pb H Cu Ag

Reactivity decrease

ELECTROCHEMISTRY
LESS REACTIVE METAL

REACTIVE METAL

ANODE

CATHODE

DONATE ELECTRON

ACCEPT ELECTRON

Varous types of voltaic cell

Lead acid Accumulator

Dry cell

Mercury cell

Alkaline cell

Nickel-cadmium cell

Advantages Rechargeable Can be made to have higher voltage Disadvantages Heavy Expensive Spilled easily

Advantages Portable Cheap Stable voltage of 1.5 v

Advantage Portable

Advantage Portable Voltage of 1.5 V More long lasting

Advantages Portable Rechargeable up to hundreds of times

Disadvantages Disadvantages Disadvantages Produce low Not rechargeable Disadvantages Not voltage of 1.25 V Produces voltage Not rechargeable rechargeable Expensive May leak of 1.3 V only Heavy Poisonous

Differences between electrolytic cells and voltaic cells

Electrical energy Chemical energy

Energy change

Chemical energy electrical energy From negative terminal to positive terminal

From positive terminal Electron flow to negative terminal

Cathode: Ions take in Negative terminal Anode: Electrons electrons released, forming ions Anode : Ions release Positive terminal Cathode, electrons electrons taken in Two similar (usually carbon) or different metals

Types of electrodes

Two different metals

Thank you.