Paddington Academy

A LEVEL CHEMISTRY
TOPIC 13 – ELECTROCHEMISTRY

TEST

Answer all questions

Max 50 marks

Name ……………………………………………………………..

Mark ……../50 ……....% Grade ………

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1. The table contains some standard electrode potential data.

Electrode half-equation E /V

F2 + 2e− 2F− +2.87

Au+ + e− Au +1.68

2HOCl + 2H+ + 2e− Cl2 + 2H2O +1.64

Cl2 + 2e− 2Cl− +1.36

O2 + 4H+ + 4e− 2H2O +1.23

Ag+ + e− Ag +0.80

Fe3+ + e− Fe2+ +0.77

2H+ + 2e− H2 0.00

Fe2+ + 2e− Fe −0.44

(a) In terms of electrons, explain the meaning of the term oxidising agent.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Identify the weakest oxidising agent in the table.

Explain your choice.

Weakest oxidising agent ................................................................................

Explanation ....................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

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(c) Write the conventional representation of the cell used to measure the standard electrode
potential for the Ag+ / Ag electrode.

State the conditions necessary when measuring this value.

Conventional representation ..........................................................................

........................................................................................................................

Conditions ......................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

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(4)

(d) Use data from the table to explain, in terms of redox, what happens when a soluble gold(I)
compound containing Au+ ions is added to water.

State what you would observe.

Write an equation for the reaction that occurs.

Explanation .....................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

Observation ....................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

Equation .........................................................................................................
(4)

(e) A cell is made by connecting Fe2+ / Fe and Ag+ / Ag electrodes with a salt bridge.

(i) Calculate the e.m.f. of this cell.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

Answer ......................................................................
(1)

(ii) Suggest why potassium chloride would not be suitable for use in the salt bridge of
this cell.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)
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(f) Use data from the table to explain what happens when a solution of iron(II) chloride is
exposed to the air.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 15 marks)

2. Use the data below, where appropriate, to answer the questions which follow.

Standard electrode potentials E /V

2H (aq) + 2e → H (g)
+ –
2 0.00

Br (aq) + 2e → 2Br (aq)

2
– –
+1.09
2BrO3-(aq) + 12H (aq) + 10e → Br (aq) + 6H O(l)
+ –
2 2
+1.52

Each of the above can be reversed under suitable conditions.

(a) State the hydrogen ion concentration and the hydrogen gas pressure when, at 298 K, the
potential of the hydrogen electrode is 0.00 V.

Hydrogen ion concentration .........................................................................

Hydrogen gas pressure ................................................................................

(2)

(b) The electrode potential of a hydrogen electrode changes when the hydrogen ion
concentration is reduced. Explain, using Le Chatelier’s principle, why this change occurs
and state how the electrode potential of the hydrogen electrode changes.

Explanation of change ..................................................................................

Change in electrode potential .......................................................................

(3)

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(c) A diagram of a cell using platinum electrodes X and Y is shown below.

(i) Use the data above to calculate the e.m.f. of the above cell under standard
conditions.

.............................................................................................................

(ii) Write a half-equation for the reaction occurring at electrode X and an overall
equation for the cell reaction which occurs when electrodes X and Y are connected.

Half-equation ......................................................................................

Overall equation ..................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 9 marks)

3. Nickel–cadmium cells are used to power electrical equipment such as drills and shavers.
The electrode reactions are shown below.

NiO(OH) + H O + e → Ni(OH) + OH
2
–
2
–
Eο = +0.52 V

Cd(OH) + 2e → Cd + 2OH
2
– –
Eο = –0.88 V

(a) Calculate the e.m.f. of a nickel–cadmium cell.

......................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Deduce an overall equation for the reaction that occurs in the cell when it is used.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(2)

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(c) Identify the oxidising agent in the overall cell reaction and give the oxidation state of the
metal in this oxidising agent.

Oxidising agent ............................................................................................

Oxidation state .............................................................................................

(2)
(Total 5 marks)

4. Redox reactions occur in the discharge of all electrochemical cells. Some of these cells are of
commercial value.
The table below shows some redox half-equations and standard electrode potentials.

Half-equation E/ V
ο

–0.76
Zn (aq) + 2e
2+ –
→ Zn(s)
+0.34
Ag O(s) + 2H (aq) + 2e–
2
+
→ 2Ag(s) + H O(I) 2

+1.23
O (g) + 4H (aq) + 4e
2
+ –
→ 2H O(I)
2

+2.87
F (g) + 2e
2
–
→ 2F (aq) –

(a) In terms of electrons, state what happens to a reducing agent in a redox reaction.

......................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Use the table above to identify the strongest reducing agent from the species in the table.

Explain how you deduced your answer.

Strongest reducing agent ............................................................................

Explanation ..................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Use data from the table to explain why fluorine reacts with water.

Write an equation for the reaction that occurs.

Explanation ..................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

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Equation .......................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(3)

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(d) An electrochemical cell can be constructed using a zinc electrode and an electrode in
which silver is in contact with silver oxide. This cell can be used to power electronic
devices.

(i) Give the conventional representation for this cell.

.............................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Calculate the e.m.f. of the cell.

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) Suggest one reason why the cell cannot be electrically recharged.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(e) The electrode half-equations in a lead–acid cell are shown in the table below.

Half-equation E/ V
ο

+1.69
PbO (s) + 3H (aq) + HSO (aq) + 2e
2
+
4
– –
→ PbSO (s) + 2H O(I)
4 2

to be
PbSO (s) + H (aq) + 2e
4
+ –
→ Pb(s) + HSO (aq) 4
–

calculate
d

(i) The PbO /PbSO electrode is the positive terminal of the cell and the e.m.f. of the
2 4

cell is 2.15 V.

Use this information to calculate the missing electrode potential for the half-equation
shown in the table.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) A lead–acid cell can be recharged.

Write an equation for the overall reaction that occurs when the cell is being
recharged.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

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(2)

(f) The diagrams below show how the e.m.f. of each of two cells changes with time when
each cell is used to provide an electric current.

(i) Give one reason why the e.m.f. of the lead–acid cell changes after several hours.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Identify the type of cell that behaves like cell X.

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) Explain why the voltage remains constant in cell X.

.............................................................................................................

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.............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 17 marks)

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5. A disproportionation reaction occurs when a species M+ spontaneously undergoes simultaneous

oxidation and reduction.

2M+(aq) → M2+(aq) + M(s)

The table below contains E data for copper and mercury species.

E /V

Cu2+(aq) + e− → Cu+(aq) + 0.15

Cu+(aq) + e− → Cu(s) + 0.52

Hg2+(aq) + e− → Hg+(aq) + 0.91

Hg+(aq) + e− → Hg(l) + 0.80

Using these data, which one of the following can be predicted?

A Both Cu(I) and Hg(I) undergo disproportionation.

B Only Cu(I) undergoes disproportionation.

C Only Hg(I) undergoes disproportionation.

D Neither Cu(I) nor Hg(I) undergoes disproportionation.

(Total 1 mark)

6. Use the data in the table below to answer this question.

E /V

MnO (aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e− → Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 1.52

Cr2O (aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e− → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) + 1.33

Fe3+(aq) + e− → Fe2+(aq) + 0.77

Cr3+(aq) + e− → Cr2+(aq) − 0.41

Zn2+(aq) + 2e− → Zn(s) − 0.76

The most powerful oxidising agent in the table is

A Mn2+(aq)

B Zn(s)

C MnO (aq)

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D Zn2+(aq)
(Total 1 mark)

7. In this question consider the data below.

E /V

Ag+(aq) + e− → Ag(s) +0.80

2H+(aq) + 2e− → H2(g) 0.00

Pb2+(aq) + 2e− → Pb(s) −0.13

The e.m.f. of the cell Pt(s) | H2(g) | H+(aq) || Ag+(aq) | Ag(s) would be increased by

A increasing the concentration of H+(aq).

B increasing the surface area of the Pt electrode.

C increasing the concentration of Ag+(aq).

D decreasing the pressure of H2(g).

(Total 1 mark)

8. In this question consider the data below.

E /V

Ag+(aq) + e− → Ag(s) +0.80

2H+(aq) + 2e− → H2(g) 0.00

Pb2+(aq) + 2e− → Pb(s) −0.13

The e.m.f. of the cell Ag(s) | Ag+(aq) || Pb2+(aq) | Pb(s) is

A 0.93 V

B 0.67 V

C −0.67 V

D −0.93 V
(Total 1 mark)

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