Discovering Electrochemistry Laboratory Exercise

Chemistry 109, 20 November 2008

Shaun Hernandez and Mahir Iqbal

Introduction

A half cell, in terms of this exercise, is constructed using a piece of metal

that is in contact with a solution of ions of the same metal(). In each of the
cases, the concentration of the metal ions is 1.0M.

Further, uniting two of these half cells via a salt bridge1 and wire will result in
the construction of a circuit, through which current will flow. This current
consists of the ions in the more reducing metal leaving the electrode and
entering the surrounding solution; conversely, the less reducing metal
accepts electrons ().

Thus, it is the purpose of this laboratory exercise to determine which of the

utilized metals is the more reducing metal; that is, which metal is the
stronger reducing agent (). In this exercise, several concepts were explored,
including: the relative reducing potential of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, and
silver, as discussed above; the relationship between concentration and cell
potential; and the development of a quantitative method of calculating cell
potential. Further, this exercise allows us to understand the importance of
careful preparation of laboratory apparatus ().

Methods

This laboratory exercise consisted of two parts. In the first part, the potential
difference of each of the metals was measured relative to each other. Each of
the metals had a concentration of 1M. The electrodes were prepared by first
sanding the oxide coating off of each of the metals. Next, each cell of the
Chem-Carrou-CellTM was filled with an aqueous solution of the salt of the
respective metal electrode2. The metal electrodes were placed in solution,
and the center of the Chem-Carrou-CellTM was filled with KNO3 (aq)3. To form
the salt bridge, small strips of filter paper were placed in the center cell and
placed into each of the respective cells (thus “bridging” each of the cells to
the center).

1
See Methods for a description of the construction of the salt bridge.
2
The metal salts were: Cu(NO3)2; Zn(NO3)2; Ni(NO3)2; FeCl2; AgNO3; KNO3
3
1M
The multimeter was then prepared4 and zeroed5. Then, one of the leads
(either positive or negative) was connected to one of the metals; the
remaining lead was connected to another metal. The potential difference was
then observed and recorded. This procedure was repeated for each of the
possible metal-to-metal combinations6.

For the second part of the exercise, the relationship between cell potential
and concentration was elucidated. Specifically, the relationship between cell
and concentration for silver/copper and zinc/copper was explored. For the
silver/copper relationship, one silver half cell7 and five copper half cells
ranging in concentration from 1M to 1x10-4 M were prepared8. The potential
difference for each of these concentrations was measured relative to the
silver half cell. The zinc/copper relationship, the same procedure was carried
out, except that the silver was replaced with zinc9. The potential differences
were observed and recorded for each of the combinations.

4
Set to Volts DC.
5
Accomplished by touching together the leads.
6
20 different cell potentials were observed.
7
1M
8
1M, 1x10-1M, 1x10-2M, 1x10-3M, 1x10-4M Cu
9
An eye-dropper was used to remove the silver from the cell; the same solutions of copper
were used.