Chem101 Ho4

Study Guide in CHE 111: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS Module 1: ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY
CELL POTENTIALS
Electrochemical cell: A container containing an electrolyte and two electrodes; used to produce direct
current electricity. One or more of them constitute a battery.
Voltage: The amount of electrostatic potential between two points in space.
Electromotive Force: EMF, Voltage generated by a battery or by a varying magnetic field,
NOTE: Spontaneous Reaction the Eo = positive
Cell Notation:
In Cell Notation, we always follow Anode // Cathode format.
For Example,
1. What is the cell notation for [Ni2+] = 0.030 M and [Pb2+] = 0.300 M.
Ni2+ (aq)+ 2 e- → Ni(s), E0 = -0.26 V
Pb2+ (aq)+ 2 e- → Pb(s), E0 = -0.13 V
Note : Anode has an Eo lower than the cathode.

: Anode is where Oxidation Occurs and Cathode is where Reduction occurs.
Anode: Ni(s) → Ni2+ + 2 e- [Ni2+] = 0.030 M

Cathode: Pb2+ + 2 e- → Pb [Pb2+] = 0.300 M.
Ni(s) / Ni2+ (aq) (0.030M) // Pb2+ (aq) (0.3 M)/ Pb(s)
The Nernst Equation
In electrochemistry, the Nernst equation can be used to determine the reduction potential of an
electrochemical cell.
The Nernst equation gives a formula that relates the electromotive force of a nonstandard cell to the
concentrations of species in solution:
0.05914
E= Eo - log Q
n -----For 1 Molar Solution and @ T=25oC
RT
ln Q
E= Eo - nF -------for T higher than 25 oC
Where: R= 8.314 J/mol.K
Eo= Eocathode - Eoanode
In this equation:
• E is the electromotive force of the non-standard cell

• Eo is the electromotive force of the standard cell
• n is the number of moles of electrons transferred in the reaction, Electrons from half cell reaction., Mol
e-/Mol
for the reaction: aA+bB→cC+dD
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 11

Mathematically,
C ^ c.D ^ d
Q= = Products/Reactants
A^ a.B ^ b
Example:
1. Find the cell potential of a galvanic cell based on the following reduction half-reactions where [Ni2+] = 0.030
M and [Pb2+] = 0.300 M.
Ni2+ + 2 e- → Ni, E0 = -0.26 V

Pb2+ + 2 e- → Pb, E0 = -0.13 V
First, find the electromotive force for the standard cell, which assumes concentrations of 1 M.
Take Note: Pure Solids has a concentration of 1.
2. Find the cell potential of a galvanic based on the following reduction half reactions at 25 oC
Cd 2+ + 2e- → Cd E0 = -0.403 V
Pb2+ + 2e- → Pb E0 = -0.126 V
Where [Cd2+] = 0.020 M and [Pb2+] = 0.200 M.
3. What is the cell potential of the reaction shown below at 300K?

2Al (s) + 3Cu2+ → 2Al3+ + 3Cu(s)
Eo = 2v ,Where [Al3+] = 0.10 M and [Cu2+] = 2.5 M
4. Determine the cell potential when Ni2+ = 0.01, Cl- = 0.20 M and the Cl2=1.0 atm
Given the reaction: Ni + Cl2 → Ni2+ + 2Cl-
5. A galvanic cell is made using 0.25M ZnSO4 and an unknown amount of CuSO4. The cell potential is 1.05V
at 50 C. a. what is the concentration of CuSO4 in the Cathode compartment? How many grams of CuSO4
are dissolved if the cathode compartment contains 250 mL solution?
Zn(s) + Cui2+ → Zn2+ + Cu(s)
Batteries and Fuel Cell

Battery (storage cell) - is a galvanic cell (or a series of galvanic cells) that contains all the reactants needed
to produce electricity.
Fuel cell is a galvanic cell that requires a constant external supply of one or more reactants to generate
electricity.
Two Kinds of Battery Cell

1. Disposable or primary Batteries - electrode reactions are effectively irreversible and which cannot be
recharged.
2. Rechargeable or secondary Batteries - which form an insoluble product that adheres to the electrodes.
These batteries can be recharged by applying an electrical potential in the reverse direction. The recharging
process temporarily converts a rechargeable battery from a galvanic cell to an electrolytic cell.

Three Kinds of Primary (Nonrechargeable) Batteries

1. Leclanché dry cell - actually a “wet cell,” in which the electrolyte is an acidic water-based paste
containing MnO2, NH4Cl, ZnCl2, graphite, and starch. Though inexpensive to manufacture, the cell is not
very efficient in producing electrical energy and has a limited shelf life.
2. Button battery - the anode is a zinc–mercury amalgam, and the cathode can be either HgO (shown here)
or Ag2O as the oxidant.
3. Lithium–iodine battery - consists of two cells separated by a metallic nickel mesh that collects charge
from the anodes. The anode is lithium metal, and the cathode is a solid complex of I2. The electrolyte is a
layer of solid LiI that allows Li+ ions to diffuse from the cathode to the anode. Although this type of battery
produces only a relatively small current, it is highly reliable and long-lived.
Leclanché Dry Cell
- is used in flashlights, electronic devices such as the Walkman and Game Boy, and many other devices.
-In spite of its name, the Leclanché dry cell is actually a “wet cell”: the electrolyte is an acidic water-based
paste containing MnO2, NH4Cll, ZnCl2, graphite, and starch.
The half-reactions at the anode and the cathode can be summarized as follows:
cathode (reduction): 2MnO2(s)+2NH4+(aq) + 2e− → Mn2O3(s) + 2NH3(aq) + H2O(l)
anode (oxidation): Zn(s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e−
Overall Reaction: 2MnO2(s) + 2NH4Cl(aq) + Zn(s) → Mn2O3(s) +Zn(NH3)2Cl2(s) + H2O(l)
E cell= 1.55 V
Button Batteries
Although some of the small button batteries used to power watches, calculators, and cameras are miniature
alkaline cells, most are based on a completely different chemistry. In these "button" batteries, the anode is a
zinc–mercury amalgam rather than pure zinc, and the cathode uses either HgO or Ag2O as the oxidant rather
than MnO2.
The cathode and overall reactions and cell output for these two types of button batteries are as follows:
A)
cathode (Hg): HgO(s) + H2O(l) + 2e− → Hg(l) + 2OH−(aq)
anode (oxidation): Zn(s) + 2OH−(aq) → ZnO(s) + H2O(l) + 2e−
Overall Reaction: Zn(s) + 2HgO(s) → Hg(l) + ZnO(s)
Ecell=1.35V
B)
cathode (Ag): Ag2O(s)+H2O(l)+2e−→2Ag(s)+2OH−(aq)
anode (oxidation): Zn(s)+2OH−(aq)→ZnO(s)+H2O(l)+2e−
Overall Reaction: Zn(s)+2Ag2O(s)→2Ag(s)+ZnO(s)
Ecell=1.6V
Lithium–Iodine Battery
None of the batteries described above is actually “dry.” They all contain small amounts of liquid water,
which adds significant mass and causes potential corrosion problems. Consequently, substantial effort has
been expended to develop water-free batteries. One of the few commercially successful water-free batteries
is the lithium–iodine battery. The anode is lithium metal, and the cathode is a solid complex of I2. Separating
them is a layer of solid LiI, which acts as the electrolyte by allowing the diffusion of Li+ ions.
cathode (reduction): I2(s)+2e−→2I−(Li)
anode (oxidation): 2Li(s)→2Li+(LiI)+2e−

overall: 2Li(s)+I2(s)→2LiI(s)
Ecell=3.5V
Fuel Cells
A fuel cell is a galvanic cell that requires a constant external supply of reactants because the products of the
reaction are continuously removed. Unlike a battery, it does not store chemical or electrical energy; a fuel cell
allows electrical energy to be extracted directly from a chemical reaction. In principle, this should be a more
efficient process than, for example, burning the fuel to drive an internal combustion engine that turns a
generator, which is typically less than 40% efficient, and in fact, the efficiency of a fuel cell is generally between
40% and 60%.
A. Hydrogen Fuel Cell

These space vehicles use a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell that requires a continuous input of H2(g) and O2(g).
cathode (reduction): O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e−→ 2H2O(g)
anode (oxidation): 2H2(g) → 4H + + 4e−
Overall Reaction: 2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(g)
E cell (theo) = 1.23 V
E cell (actual) = 0.9 V
In the reaction the catalyst used is O2.

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Study Guide in CHE 111: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS Module 1: ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY

Note : Anode has an Eo lower than the cathode.

Anode: Ni(s) → Ni2+ + 2 e- [Ni2+] = 0.030 M

The Nernst Equation

• E is the electromotive force of the non-standard cell

for the reaction: aA+bB→cC+dD

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 11

Ni2+ + 2 e- → Ni, E0 = -0.26 V

Take Note: Pure Solids has a concentration of 1.

3. What is the cell potential of the reaction shown below at 300K?

Batteries and Fuel Cell

Two Kinds of Battery Cell

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 12

Three Kinds of Primary (Nonrechargeable) Batteries

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 13

A. Hydrogen Fuel Cell

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 14

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