EXPERIMENT # 2.

2
Galvanic Cells, The Nernst Equation

GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS LABORATORY

CHM011-L/OL57

ESCOTE, SHANE ANGELO T.

2020117323

Mapúa University

October 2020
 INTRODUCTION

Electrochemistry is the study of chemical reactions that includes the movement of

electrons between solutions. It is also the study of the relationship of chemical reactions and

electricity. There are two types of electrochemical cells, galvanic and electrolytic, both employs

the principle of oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction. In an oxidation process, the electrons are

lost while in the reduction process, electrons are gained. To have a beneficial electrical work,

galvanic cells binds electrical energy that are available from electron transportation in a redox

reaction.

In the experiment, the usage of a galvanic cell was utilized to understand the following

objective: (1) Measure relative reduction potentials for several redox couples, (2) Develop depth

understanding in the movement of electrons, anions, and cations in a galvanic cell, (3) Study the

factors that affects ell potentials, (4) Estimate the concentration of an unknown solutions using

the Nernst equation.

In a galvanic cell, a redox reaction occurs spontaneously like all portable batteries. This

reaction proceeds by splitting the oxidation and reduction solutions whereas the transferring of

electrons takes place in an external route called salt bridge. Salt bridge are junctions that

connects the anode and cathodes compartments in a cell or an electrolyte solution (Byju’s, n.d.).

It is usually made of salt solutions. For example, in the experiment, the chemical reaction of

copper (cathode) and iron (anode). The cathode is the location where the cations transfer, and the

positive ions go towards positive terminal in order to neutralize electrons gained in the reduction.

This can be expressed in half-cell equation of:

 EQUATION 1:
Fe (s) -> Fe2+ (aq) + 2e- Oxidation half-reaction
Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- -> Cu (s) Reduction half-reaction
Fe (s) +Cu2+ (aq) -> Cu (s) + Fe2+ (aq)
The difference in reduction potential of two half-cell of an electrochemical cell are called

cell potential (Lumen, n.d.). In every galvanic cell, the cell potentials are measured in volts by

using voltmeter. In any case it is impossible to directly measure the potential reduction of the

two half-cell in a electrochemical cell however due to constant research of chemists they have

formulated a process to measure the ability of reduction in a table of standard reduction

potentials (Sparks Notes Editors, n.d.). In the experiment, the reaction of the copper and iron

solutions have the cell potential of:

EQUATION 2:

E
cell
=E
Cu
2+
,
Cu
–E
Fe
2+
,
Fe
E
cell
=E
Cu
2+
,
Cu
–E
Fe
2+
,
Fe
E
cell
=E
Cu
2+
,
Cu
–E
Fe
2+
,
Fe
Ecell = ECu2+, Cu – EFe2+, Fe
Since the copper ion has a greater
reduction potential than iron ion does
and the cell potential must be a
positive
value, the copper ion must be placed
before the iron ion as expressed in
equation 2. The measured cell
potential
corresponds to the standard cell
potential when the concentrations of
all ions are 1 mol/L and the
temperature of the
solutions is 25C°. Otherwise, the
Nernst equation can be applied. This
equation is expressed as:
Since copper has a greater reduction potential than iron the cell potential value must be

positive. Hence, the copper (cathode) is placed in front of the iron (anode) as expressed in

equation 2. The cell potential calculated is equal to the standard cell potential when all

concentrations are 1 mol/L and with a 25C° temperature. Otherwise, the use of Nernst equation

is necessary. The equation is expressed in:

 EQUATION 3:

0.0592
Ecell =E ° cell− logQ
n

Whereas the E°cell is the actual cell potential, n is the number of electrons transferred, Q

is the molar concentrations of the product divided by the reactant and raised to the power of its

coefficient in the balanced equation.

In the whole experiment, three (3) galvanic cells are set up with the apparatus for voltaic

cell. The researcher only measured the voltage of each reaction to calculate the unknown

concentration of the redox solution. It is composed of copper and zinc ions to produce a redox

reaction.

Meanwhile, the researcher immersed himself in a virtual laboratory entitled Redox

Reactions: Discover how batteries work. Through the laboratory the researcher learned about the

essence of periodic table in identifying the oxidizing value of each compound and element, and

the way batteries are made to produce electricity. Moreover, the virtual laboratory gave

necessary information to carry out the experiment.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1.1. Reduction Potentials of Several Redox Couples

Cu-Zn (Ecell = 0.79 V)
Anod Equation for Anode Half-Reaction Cathode Equation for Cathode Half-
e Reaction
_Zn_ _Zn(s)___ Zn2+(aq) + 2e-_ _Cu_ _Cu2+(aq) + 2e-___Cu(s)_

Cu-Fe (Ecell = 0.97 V)

Anod Equation for Anode Half-Reaction Cathode Equation for Cathode Half-
e Reaction
_Fe_ _Fe(s)___Fe2+(aq) +_2e-_ _Cu_ _Cu (aq) + 2e-___Cu(s)_
2+
 Zn-Fe (Ecell = 0.20 V)
Anod Equation for Anode Half-Reaction Cathode Equation for Cathode Half-
e Reaction
_Zn_ _Zn(s)___ Zn2+(aq) + 2e-_ _ Fe (aq) +_2e-___ Fe(s)_
2+
_Fe__
_

Galvanic Measured Anode Equation of anode Cathode Equation of Cathode

Cell Ecell
Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2e- Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
Cu-Zn 0.79 V Zn Cu
Fe(s) Fe2+(aq) + 2e- Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
Cu-Fe 0.97 V Fe Cu
Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2e- Fe2+(aq) + 2e- Fe(s)
Zn-Fe 0.20 V Zn Fe

Oxidation: Zn -> Zn2++ 2e- E° = - 0.76V

Reduction: Cu2++ 2e- -> Cu E° = 0.34V
Overall: Zn + Cu2+ -> Zn2++ Cu E° cell= 1.1V
Percent Error: 28.18%

Oxidation: Fe -> Fe2++ 2e- E° = - 0.44V

Reduction: Cu2++ 2e- -> Cu E° = 0. 34V
Overall: Fe + Cu2+ -> Fe2+ + Cu E° cell = 0.78V
Percent Error: 24.36%

Oxidation: Zn -> Zn2+ + 2e- E° = -0.79V

Reduction: Fe2+ + 2e- -> Fe E° = -0.44V
Overall: Zn + Fe2+ -> Zn2+ + Fe E° cell = 0.35V
Percent Error: 42.86%

Using the equation for cell potential, in which the highest standard reduction potential

(cathode) is subtracted by the lowest standard reduction potential (anode) to calculate the voltage
release by the redox couple, relate to equation 2. The researcher analyzed that the measured and

actual value of the Ecell produces a high percentage error. This may be caused by the impurities

of the solution during the experiment. Furthermore, it maybe because of a systematic error using

the laboratory equipment and an error in the amount of concentration used.

Table 1.2. Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

Cu | Cu2+(aq,0.001M) || Cu2+(aq,1M) | Cu
Cell Potential of Concentration Cell: 0.087 V
Equation for Anode Half-Reaction Equation for Cathode Half-Reaction
_ Cu(s) Cu2+(aq, 0.001M) + 2e-_ _ Cu2+(aq, 1M) + 2e-___Cu(s)_

In the calculation of the redox couple, it is concluded that the ionization of the anode

substance to transfer its electron to the cathode produces a spontaneous cell potential of 0.087V.

According to Khan Academy, the low cell potential value is because of the difference in the

concentration of the substances. It includes the principle of concentration cells. A concentration

cell is an electrolytic cell that consist of two half-cells with similar electrodes, but different

concentration. It acts to dilute the higher concentrated solution and concentrate the more dilute

solution to create a voltage when the cell reaches an equilibrium.

Table 1.3. The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration

Ecell measured Concentration of the
Concentration Cell
(V) Unknown, M
Solution 1 – Solution 2 0.06 1.38 x 1034 M
Solution 1 – Solution 3 0.12 1.29 x 1032 M
Solution 1 – Solution 4 0.18 1.20 x 1030 M

Constants:
Temperature = 25oC
[Solution 1] = 0.1 M Cu2+ (consider Solution 1 as the concentrated solution and the cathode)
 Since the principle of the cell potential was not met, the used of Nernst equation was

necessary. The Nernst equation enables the determination of cell-potential in non-standard

conditions where the constant temperature of 25oC and molar concentration of 1M is different

(LibreText, 2020). Using this principle of the Nernst equation the researcher then calculated the

amount of the unknown concentration in the experiment, you can use the equation as shown in

equation 3 of the introduction. Thus, according to the presented and calculated data, the zinc

solution was dissolve in the reaction and the electron are transferred to the copper ion. Moreover,

the amount of the missing concentration value was found according to the use of the Nernst

Equation.

CONCLUSION

In this laboratory, the researcher was able to fully understand the objectives of the

experiment. For Table 1.1 of the experiment, the researcher was able to understand the use of

cell potential in calculating the voltage produced by the redox couples, in which it can be

identified by the movement of the electrons, anions, and cations to determine the cathode and

anode of the redox couple. In Table 1.2, we identify the effects of concentration change on cell

potential. The change can be identified by the difference in concentration of the solutions used.

Such as if we increased the product concentration the cell potential will decreased and vice versa.

Lastly, in table 1.3, to get the unknown concentration the used of the Nernst equation was

necessary. Since accordingly to its principle, it enables the determination of cell-potential in non-

standard conditions where the constant temperature of 25oC and molar concentration of 1M is

different (LibreText, 2020).

Additionally, there was a huge discrepancy between the measured and theoretical value

of the cell potentials in table 1.1. It maybe because of a systematic error in using the laboratory
equipment and an error in calculating the theoretical cell potential. So, it is recommended to

double check the equipment’s to be used in the experiment to prevent miscalculation in the

amount of the solutions and thus in the solving of the required values. Moreover, manipulating

the Nernst equation in table 1.3 to find the unknown concentration of the solution is deeply

recommended.

REFERENCES
Concentration cell. (n.d.). Retrieved from Khan Academy:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-chemistry/redox-reactions-and-
electrochemistry-ap/cell-potentials-under-nonstandard-conditions-tutorial-
ap/v/concentration-cell

Electrochemistry. (n.d.). Retrieved from Lumen:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/cheminter/chapter/electrochemistry/

Introduction to electrochemistry. (n.d.). Retrieved from Sparksnotes:

https://www.sparknotes.com/chemistry/electrochemistry/intro/terms/

Salt Bridge. (n.d.). Retrieved from Byju's: The Learning App: https://byjus.com/jee/salt-bridge/

Standard reduction potential. (2020, August 16). Retrieved from Libretext:

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(
Analytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Redox_Chemistry/Standard_Reduction_Potenti
al
APPENDIX