INTRODUCTION

> Electro Chemical Cell

Whenever a redox reaction is allowed to take place directly in a
single beaker, it is found that the solution becomes hot. For
example, when a zinc is placed in a copper solution, the solution
is found to be warmer as the reaction proceeds according to the
equation.

Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)

Similar results are observed when a rod of copper is placed in

silver solution. The reaction taking place as follows:

2Cu(s) + 2 AgNO3(aq) → 2CuNO3(s) + 2Ag(s)

[16/11, 3:12 pm] Alex: Thus, we conclude that whenever a
redox takes place directly in a single beaker, chemical energy in
the form of heat is produced. By suitable means it is possible to
bring out the redox reaction indirectly so as to convert the
chemical energy into the electrical energy.
Representation of an Electrochemical Cell

An electrochemical cell is represented in a manner as

illustrated below.

Zn / Zn2+ || Cu2+ / Cu

i.e. by convention, the electrode on which oxidation takes

place is written on the left- hand side and the other
electrode on which reduction takes place is written on the
right- hand side. The electrode of the left-hand side is
written by writing the symbol of the metal first followed
by the symbol of the ion with its concentration in
brackets. The electrode on the right-hand side is written
by first writing the ion along with its concentration in
brackets followed by the symbol of the metal.
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

A zinc rod is placed in the zinc sulphate solution taken in

a beaker. A copper rod is placed in the copper sulphate
solution taken in another beaker. The two rods are
connected by a wire and two solutions are connected by a
salt bridge.
Voltmeter
 2

Zn(s) + 2e-—• Zn24 Cu+ + 2e-—• Cu(s) zn(s) I

CuS04(aq) I cu(s)

SALT BRIDGE AND ITS FUNCTION

A salt-bridge is a U-shaped tube containing concentrated
solution of an inert electrolyte like KCI, KNO3, K2SO4
etc. An inert electrolyte is one whose ions do not take part
in the redox reaction and also do not react with electrolyte
used. The function of the salt bridge is to allow the
movement of the ions from one solution to the other
without mixing of the two solutions. Thus, whereas the
electrons flow in the outer circuit in the wire, the inner
circuit is completed by the flow of ions from one solution
to the other through the salt bridge moreover, it helps to
maintain the electrical neutrality of the solution of the two
half cells.

Thus, the main functions of the salt bridge are:

(i) To complete the electrical circuit by allowing the ions

to flow form one solution to the other without mixing of
the two solutions.

(ii) To maintain the electrical neutrality of the solutions in

the two half cells.

Let us see what would happen if the salt bridge were not
used in the cells shown in the above diagram. Electrons
are given out by the zinc electrode where they will
neutralize some of the Cu2+ ions of the solution. Thus
S042- ions will not leave and the solution will acquire a
negative charge. At the same time, Zn2+ ions produced
from zinc plate will enter into ZnSO4 solution. After
some time, the flow of electrons will stop and hence the
current stops.

Standard EMF of an Electrochemical Cell

An electrochemical cell is based on reaction which can be
split into the two half reactions:
(i) Oxidation half reaction
(ii) Reduction half reaction Standard EMF of the cell:
Where.
Ecell Electrode Potential of the cell Ecathode Electrode
Potential of the reduction half reaction Eanode Electrode
Potential of the oxidation half reaction
According to Nernst Equation, the relation between
concentration of electrode and the standard electrode
potential can be given as:

Where,

E= Electrode Potential at non-standard conditions

E = Electrode Potential at standard conditions

n = Number of electrons transferred in the equation

[M] = concentration of the metal

[M-n+] = concentration of metal ion

SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES

Above cell may be summed up as follows:-

i) The electrode at which oxidation takes place is called

the anode. The electrode at which the reduction takes
place is called the cathode.

Since electrons are produced at the zinc electrodes, this

electrode is rich in electrons, which pushes the electrons
into the external circuit and hence it is designated as the
negative pole. The other electrode, i.e., the copper
electrode is in the need of electrons for the reduction of
Cu2+ ions into the Cu, i.e., this electrode is deficient in
electrons and pulls the electrons from the external circuit,
therefore it acts as the positive pole.

[17/11, 4:45 pm] Alex: iii) The electrons flow from the
negative pole to the positive pole in the external circuit.
However, conventionally, this current is set to flow in the
opposite direction.

iv) The oxidation of Zn into ions produces excess of Zn2+

ions in the left beaker. This creates an unbalanced positive
charge in the solution. To maintain electrical neutrality of
the solution in the two beakers, the cations and anions
move through the salt bridge.

v) As copper from copper sulphate solution is deposited

on the copper electrode and sulphate ions migrate to the
other side, the concentration of the copper sulphate
solution decreases. As the cell operates consequently, the
current falls.
vi) Evidently, the weight of the copper rod will increase
while that of zinc rod will decrease as the cell works.

PROCEDURE

1. Take two clean beakers.

2. In one beaker take 0.5 M copper sulphate solution and

in the other take 0.5 M zinc sulphate solution.

3. Take a copper strip and clean it using a sand paper.

4. Dip the copper strip into the beaker containing the I M

copper sulphate solution.

5. Similarly, take a zinc strip and clean it using a sand

paper.

6. Then dip it into the beaker containing IM zinc sulphate

solution.
7. Take a salt bridge and connect the two solutions using
the salt bridge.

[05/12, 11:49 am] Alex: 8. Take a voltmeter and connect

the copper strip to the positive terminal and the zinc strip
to the negative terminal using connecting wires.

9. Note the position of the pointer in the voltmeter and

record the reading.

10. Repeat the experiment by taking different

concentrations of zinc sulphate and copper sulphate
solutions.

CONCLUSION
With these observations, we conclude that EMF of
the cell increases with decrease in the concentration
of the electrolyte around the anode and with increase
in the concentration of the electrolyte around the
cathode.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Chemistry Part-I, Textbook for class XII

2.http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Di-
Fa/Electrochemistry.html

3.https://en.wikipedia.org/wi ki/Daniell_cell

4. Google: The search engine