<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Key concepts and summary

Electrochemical cells typically consist of two half-cells. The half-cells separate the oxidation half-reaction from the reduction half-reaction and make it possible for current to flow through an external wire. One half-cell, normally depicted on the left side in a figure, contains the anode. Oxidation occurs at the anode. The anode is connected to the cathode in the other half-cell, often shown on the right side in a figure. Reduction occurs at the cathode. Adding a salt bridge completes the circuit allowing current to flow. Anions in the salt bridge flow toward the anode and cations in the salt bridge flow toward the cathode. The movement of these ions completes the circuit and keeps each half-cell electrically neutral. Electrochemical cells can be described using cell notation. In this notation, information about the reaction at the anode appears on the left and information about the reaction at the cathode on the right. The salt bridge is represented by a double line, ‖. The solid, liquid, or aqueous phases within a half-cell are separated by a single line, │. The phase and concentration of the various species is included after the species name. Electrodes that participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction are called active electrodes. Electrodes that do not participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction but are there to allow current to flow are inert electrodes. Inert electrodes are often made from platinum or gold, which are unchanged by many chemical reactions.

Chemistry end of chapter exercises

Write the following balanced reactions using cell notation. Use platinum as an inert electrode, if needed.

(a) Mg ( s ) + Ni 2+ ( a q ) Mg 2+ ( a q ) + Ni ( s )

(b) 2 Ag + ( a q ) + Cu ( s ) Cu 2+ ( a q ) + 2Ag ( s )

(c) Mn ( s ) + Sn(NO 3 ) 2 ( a q ) Mn(NO 3 ) 2 ( a q ) + Au ( s )

(d) 3 CuNO 3 ( a q ) + Au(NO 3 ) 3 ( a q ) 3Cu(NO 3 ) 2 ( a q ) + Au ( s )

(a) Mg ( s ) Mg 2+ ( a q ) Ni 2+ ( a q ) Ni ( s ) ; (b) Cu ( s ) Cu 2+ ( a q ) Ag + ( a q ) Ag ( s ) ; (c) Mn ( s ) Mn 2+ ( a q ) Sn 2+ ( a q ) Sn ( s ) ; (d) Pt ( s ) Cu + ( a q ), Cu 2+ ( a q ) Au 3+ ( a q ) Au ( s )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Given the following cell notations, determine the species oxidized, species reduced, and the oxidizing agent and reducing agent, without writing the balanced reactions.

(a) Mg ( s ) Mg 2+ ( a q ) Cu 2+ ( a q ) Cu ( s )

(b) Ni ( s ) Ni 2+ ( a q ) Ag + ( a q ) Ag ( s )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the cell notations in the previous problem, write the corresponding balanced reactions.

(a) Mg ( s ) + Cu 2+ ( a q ) Mg 2+ ( a q ) + Cu ( s ) ; (b) 2 Ag + ( a q ) + Ni ( s ) Ni 2+ ( a q ) + 2Ag ( s )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Balance the following reactions and write the reactions using cell notation. Ignore any inert electrodes, as they are never part of the half-reactions.

(a) Al ( s ) + Zr 4+ ( a q ) Al 3+ ( a q ) + Zr ( s )

(b) Ag + ( a q ) + NO ( g ) Ag ( s ) + NO 3 ( a q ) ( acidic solution )

(c) SiO 3 2− ( a q ) + Mg ( s ) Si ( s ) + Mg ( OH ) 2 ( s ) (basic solution)

(d) ClO 3 ( a q ) + MnO 2 ( s ) Cl ( a q ) + MnO 4 ( a q ) (basic solution)

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Identify the species oxidized, species reduced, and the oxidizing agent and reducing agent for all the reactions in the previous problem.

Species oxidized = reducing agent: (a) Al( s ); (b) NO( g ); (c) Mg( s ); and (d) MnO 2 ( s ); Species reduced = oxidizing agent: (a) Zr 4+ ( aq ); (b) Ag + ( aq ); (c) SiO 3 2− ( a q ) ; and (d) ClO 3 ( a q )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

From the information provided, use cell notation to describe the following systems:

(a) In one half-cell, a solution of Pt(NO 3 ) 2 forms Pt metal, while in the other half-cell, Cu metal goes into a Cu(NO 3 ) 2 solution with all solute concentrations 1 M .

(b) The cathode consists of a gold electrode in a 0.55 M Au(NO 3 ) 3 solution and the anode is a magnesium electrode in 0.75 M Mg(NO 3 ) 2 solution.

(c) One half-cell consists of a silver electrode in a 1 M AgNO 3 solution, and in the other half-cell, a copper electrode in 1 M Cu(NO 3 ) 2 is oxidized.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Why is a salt bridge necessary in galvanic cells like the one in [link] ?

Without the salt bridge, the circuit would be open (or broken) and no current could flow. With a salt bridge, each half-cell remains electrically neutral and current can flow through the circuit.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

An active (metal) electrode was found to gain mass as the oxidation-reduction reaction was allowed to proceed. Was the electrode part of the anode or cathode? Explain.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

An active (metal) electrode was found to lose mass as the oxidation-reduction reaction was allowed to proceed. Was the electrode part of the anode or cathode? Explain.

Active electrodes participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction. Since metals form cations, the electrode would lose mass if metal atoms in the electrode were to oxidize and go into solution. Oxidation occurs at the anode.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

The mass of three different metal electrodes, each from a different galvanic cell, were determined before and after the current generated by the oxidation-reduction reaction in each cell was allowed to flow for a few minutes. The first metal electrode, given the label A, was found to have increased in mass; the second metal electrode, given the label B, did not change in mass; and the third metal electrode, given the label C, was found to have lost mass. Make an educated guess as to which electrodes were active and which were inert electrodes, and which were anode(s) and which were the cathode(s).

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

if three forces F1.f2 .f3 act at a point on a Cartesian plane in the daigram .....so if the question says write down the x and y components ..... I really don't understand
Syamthanda Reply
hey , can you please explain oxidation reaction & redox ?
Boitumelo Reply
hey , can you please explain oxidation reaction and redox ?
Boitumelo
for grade 12 or grade 11?
Sibulele
the value of V1 and V2
Tumelo Reply
advantages of electrons in a circuit
Rethabile Reply
we're do you find electromagnetism past papers
Ntombifuthi
what a normal force
Tholulwazi Reply
it is the force or component of the force that the surface exert on an object incontact with it and which acts perpendicular to the surface
Sihle
what is physics?
Petrus Reply
what is the half reaction of Potassium and chlorine
Anna Reply
how to calculate coefficient of static friction
Lisa Reply
how to calculate static friction
Lisa
How to calculate a current
Tumelo
how to calculate the magnitude of horizontal component of the applied force
Mogano
How to calculate force
Monambi
a structure of a thermocouple used to measure inner temperature
Anna Reply
a fixed gas of a mass is held at standard pressure temperature of 15 degrees Celsius .Calculate the temperature of the gas in Celsius if the pressure is changed to 2×10 to the power 4
Amahle Reply
How is energy being used in bonding?
Raymond Reply
what is acceleration
Syamthanda Reply
a rate of change in velocity of an object whith respect to time
Khuthadzo
how can we find the moment of torque of a circular object
Kidist
Acceleration is a rate of change in velocity.
Justice
t =r×f
Khuthadzo
how to calculate tension by substitution
Precious Reply
hi
Shongi
hi
Leago
use fnet method. how many obects are being calculated ?
Khuthadzo
khuthadzo hii
Hulisani
how to calculate acceleration and tension force
Lungile Reply
you use Fnet equals ma , newtoms second law formula
Masego
please help me with vectors in two dimensions
Mulaudzi Reply
how to calculate normal force
Mulaudzi
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 8

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Chemistry. OpenStax CNX. May 20, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11760/1.9
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Chemistry' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask