1. Zumdahl Ch. 17 AP Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Zumdahl Ch. 17
AP Chemistry

2. Oxidation-reduction reactions
“Redox”: rxns with a change in oxidation number
At least one element’s oxidation number will increase and one will decrease
Consists of two half-reactions:
oxidation: loss of e-; oxidation number increases
reduction: gain of e-; oxidation number decreases (“reduces”)
Oxidizing agent (OA): causes another substance to be oxidized; gains e-
Reducing agent (RA): causes another substance to be reduced; loses e-

3. Ex: Determine the half-reactions.
Cr2O72- (aq) + Cl1- (aq) → Cr3+ (aq) + Cl2 (g) +6 -1 +3 -2
Reduction half-reaction:
Cr2O72- (aq) → Cr3+ (aq)
Oxidizing agent
Oxidation half-reaction:
Cl1- (aq) → Cl2 (g)
Reducing agent

4. Balancing Redox Reactions
“Method of Half-Reactions” steps:
Assign oxidation numbers to all species; based on this, split the half-reactions of reduction and oxidation.
For each, balance all elements except H and O.
Balance oxygen by adding H2O to the opposite side.
Balance hydrogen by adding H+ to the opposite side.
Balance charges by adding e- to side with overall positive charge.
Multiply each half-reaction by an integer so there are an equal number of e- in each.
Add the half reactions; cancel any species; check final balance.

5. Cr2O72- (aq) + Cl1- (aq) → Cr3+ (aq) + Cl2 (g)
Ex: Balance the following reaction, which takes place in acidic solution:
Cr2O72- (aq) + Cl1- (aq) → Cr3+ (aq) + Cl2 (g)
Reduction:
Cr2O72- (aq) → Cr3+ (aq)
6 e- +
14 H+ (aq) + 2
+ 7 H2O (l)
Oxidation:
Cl- (aq) → Cl2 (g)
6 Cl- (aq) → 3 Cl2 (g) + 6 e-
3 [ ] 2
+ 2 e-

6. 6 e- + 14 H+ (aq) + Cr2O72- (aq) → 2 Cr3+ (aq) + 7 H2O (l)
6 Cl- (aq) → 3 Cl2 (g) + 6 e-
14 H+ (aq) + Cr2O72- (aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) →
2 Cr3+ (aq) + 7 H2O (l) + 3 Cl2 (g)
Since occurs in acidic solution, H+ appears as a reactant
If reaction occurs in basic solution, balance using same method, but neutralize H+ with OH- as a last step.

7. MnO4- (aq) + Br- (aq) → MnO2 (s) + BrO3- (aq)
Ex: In basic solution,
MnO4- (aq) + Br- (aq) → MnO2 (s) + BrO3- (aq) -2 -1 +4 -2 +5 -2 +7
Reduction: MnO4- (aq) → MnO2 (s)
MnO4- (aq) → MnO2 (s) + 2 H2O (l)
4 H+ (aq) + MnO4- (aq) → MnO2 (s) + 2 H2O (l)
3 e- + 4 H+ (aq) + MnO4- (aq) → MnO2 (s) + 2 H2O (l)

8. Oxidation: Br- (aq) → BrO3- (aq)
3 H2O (l) + Br- (aq) → BrO3- (aq)
3 H2O (l) + Br- (aq) → BrO3- (aq) + 6 H+ (aq)
3 H2O (l) + Br- (aq) → BrO3- (aq) + 6 H+ (aq) + 6 e-
2[3 e- + 4 H+ (aq) + MnO4- (aq) → MnO2 (s) + 2 H2O (l)]
6 e- + 8 H+(aq) + 2 MnO4-(aq) → 2 MnO2(s) + 4 H2O(l)
2 H+(aq) + 2 MnO4- (aq) + Br- (aq) →
2 MnO2 (s) + BrO3- (aq) + H2O (l)

9. Neutralize with OH-:
2 H+(aq) + 2 MnO4-(aq) + Br- (aq) + 2 OH- (aq) →
2 MnO2 (s) + BrO3- (aq) + H2O (l) + 2 OH- (aq)
2 H2O (l) + 2 MnO4-(aq) + Br- (aq) →
Simplify:
H2O (l) + 2 MnO4-(aq) + Br- (aq) →
2 MnO2 (s) + BrO3- (aq) + 2 OH- (aq)

10. Introduction to Electrochemistry
An electric cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy
Alessandro Volta invented the first electric cell but got his inspiration from Luigi Galvani. Galvani’s crucial observation was that two different metals could make the muscles of a frog’s legs twitch. Unfortunately, Galvani thought this was due to some mysterious “animal electricity”. It was Volta who recognized this experiment’s potential.
An electric cell produces very little electricity, so Volta came up with a better design:
A battery is defined as two or more electric cells connected in series to produce a steady flow of current
Volta’s first battery consisted of several bowls of brine (NaCl(aq)) connected by metals that dipped from one bowl to another
His revised design, consisted of a sandwich of two metals separated by paper soaked in salt water.

11. Voltaic (or Galvanic) Cells
Alessandro Volta
(1745–1827)
Luigi Galvani
(1737–1798)
Device that utilizes energy released in a spontaneous electrochemical reaction by directing e- transfer along an external pathway, rather than directly between reactants
Electrodes: metals connected by an external circuit AnOx RedCat
Anode: half-cell where oxidation occurs
Cathode: half-cell where reduction occurs
Galvani: “Dissecting a frog at a table where he had been conducting experiments with static electricity, Galvani touched an exposed sciatic nerve of the frog with his metal scalpel, which had picked up a charge. At that moment, he saw the dead frog's leg kick as if in life. The observation made Galvani the first investigator to appreciate the relationship between electricity and animation — or life. He is typically credited with the discovery of bioelectricity.”
Volta – created the first battery (zinc and silver in brine), discovered methane
- Wikipedia

12. Voltaic Cells (aka Galvanic Cell)
A device that spontaneously produces electricity by spontaneous redox reactions.
The reduction half-reaction will be above the oxidation half-reaction in the activity series to ensure a spontaneous reaction.
Composed of two half-cells; which each consist of a metal rod or strip immersed in a solution of its own ions or an inert electrolyte.
Electrodes: solid conductors connecting the cell to an external circuit
Anode: electrode where oxidation occurs (-)
Cathode: electrode where reduction occurs (+)

13. Voltaic Cells (aka Galvanic Cell)
-The electrons flow from the Anode to the Cathode (“A before C”) through an electrical circuit rather than passing directly from one substance to another
-A porous boundary separates the two electrolytes while still allowing ions to flow to maintain cell neutrality. Often the porous boundary is a salt bridge, containing an inert aqueous electrolyte (such as Na2SO4(aq) or KNO3(aq)), Or you can use a porous cup containing one electrolyte which sits in a container of a second electrolyte.

14. Ex: Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)
Oxidation half-cell: Zn (s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2 e-
Reduction half-cell: Cu2+ (aq) + 2 e- → Cu (s)
(-)
(+)
e- flow
anode
cathode
NO31-
Na1+ Zn Cu
salt bridge, saturated with NaNO3 (aq)
Zn2+ (aq)
Cu2+ (aq)
Notation:
Anode| Anode product|Salt |Cathode|Cathode product
Zn(s)|Zn2+(aq, 1 M)|NaNO3 (saturated)|Cu2+(aq, 1 M)|Cu(s)

15. Ex: Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)

16. Cell Notation for Voltaic Cells
Voltaic cells can be represented using cell notation:
The single line represents a phase boundary (electrode to electrolyte) and the double line represents a physical boundary (porous boundary)
For a redox reaction to be spontaneous, the metal with higher reduction potential should be made cathode.
Write cell notation for Zn-Cu cell

17. Voltaic Cell Summary
A voltaic cell consists of two-half cells separated by a porous boundary with solid electrodes connected by an external circuit
Oxidizing agent undergoes reduction at the cathode (+ electrode) – cathode increases in mass
Reducing agent undergoes oxidation at the anode (- electrode) – anode decreases in mass
Electrons always travel in the external circuit from anode to cathode
Internally, cations move toward the cathode, anions move toward the anode, keeping the solution neutral

18. Electromotive force (emf or E)
Potential difference between cathode and anode that causes a flow of e-.
The result of the difference in electric fields produced at each electrode
Also called cell potential or cell voltage, Ecell
Units = Volt (1 V = 1 Joule / 1 Coulomb)
Standard conditions (25°C, 1 atm, 1 M): Eºcell
Eºcell is unique to each set of half-cells involved
Worked as a military engineer in the French army
Charles-Augustin de Coulomb
(1736–1806)

19. Standard Reduction Potentials
Assigned to each reduction reaction
Eºcell = Eºreduction(cathode) - Eº reduction(anode)
All Eºred are referenced to standard hydrogen electrode (S.H.E.):
2 H+ (aq, 1 M) + 2 e- → H2 (g, 1 atm)
Eºreduction = 0 V

20. Standard Cells and Cell Potentials
Standard Cell Potential, E0 cell = the electric potential difference of the cell (voltage)
E0 cell = E0r cathode – E0r anode
Where E0r is the standard reduction potential, and is a measure of a standard ½ cell’s ability to attract electrons.
The higher the E0r , the stronger the OA
All standard reduction potentials are based on the standard hydrogen ½ cell being 0.00V. This means that all standard reduction potentials that are positive are stronger OA’s than hydrogen ions and all standard reduction potentials that are negative are weaker.
If the E0 cell is positive, the reaction occurring is spontaneous.
If the E0 cell is negative, the reaction occurring is non-spontaneous

21. Rules for Calculating Cell Potential
Determine which electrode is the cathode. The cathode is the electrode where reduction occurs- marked by the higher reduction potential of the metal
Write the reduction half-reaction and its reduction potential
Determine which electrode is the anode. The anode is the electrode where oxidation occurs.
Write the oxidation half-reaction (reverse the half-reaction, flip the sign for E0r)
Determine the overall cell reaction. Balance the electrons for the two half reactions and add the half-reaction equations.
Determine the standard cell potential, E0cell by adding the E0r’s together

22. Ex: Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)
Practice Problem # 1
Ex: Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)
Anode: Zn (s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2 e-
This is oxidation, but Eºreduction is recorded as the reduction reaction:
Zn2+ (aq) + 2 e- → Zn (s), where
Eºreduction = V
Flip the rxn: Zn  Zn2+ (aq) + 2 e-
Cathode:
Cu2+ (aq) + 2 e- → Cu (s) Eºreduction = V
Eºcell = 0.34 V V
Eºcell = V

23. Practice Problem # 2
Example: What is the standard potential of the cell represented below:
Determine the cathode and anode
Determine the overall cell reaction
Determine the standard cell potential.
Draw the galvanic cell.

24. Some Important Facts to Remember
Positive voltages = reaction is spontaneous (cell will produce voltage, DG is -)
Changing the stoichiometric coefficients of a half-cell does not affect the value of Eº, since potential is a measure of the energy per electrical charge.
However, having more moles means the reaction will continue for a greater time.

25. Using the Standard Reduction Potential table
When Eºred is very negative, reduction is difficult (but oxidation is easy):
Li1+ (aq) + e- → Li (s) Eºred = V
Li (s) oxidizes easily, so it is the strongest reducing agent; lower on the Standard Reduction Potential chart signifies the anode.
When Eºred is very positive, reduction is easy:
F2 (g) + 2 e- → 2 F1- Eºred = V
F2 reduces easily, so it is the strongest oxidizing agent; higher on the chart signifies the cathode.
Predicting metal “activity series”: most reactive metals are near bottom

26. Spontaneity of Redox Reactions
Gibbs free energy and emf:
ΔGo = - n F Eo
n = # of moles of e- transferred
Faraday’s constant, F = 96,500 C/mol of e-
1F = 1 mole of e-, which has a charge of 96,500 C
Units = (mol e-)(C/mol e-)(V) = (mol e-)(C/mol e-)(J/C) = J
As Eºcell increases, ΔGº decreases (becomes more spontaneous)
Michael Faraday ( )
Invented the precursor to the Bunsen burner, first to discover relationship b/n electricity and magnetism, discovered benzene, created the concept of oxidation number,

27. Effect of Concentration on Ecell
The Nernst Equation: Used to figure out cell potential under experimental conditions (E)
DG = DGo + RT ln Q and DGo = - n F Eo
(R = J/(mol•K))
- n F E = - n F Eº + RT ln Q
Nernst also postulated the 3rd Law of Thermodynamics.
Walther Nernst ( )

28. At equilibrium, DG = 0 since T º = 298 K Go K Eocell Reaction
Negative
> 1
Positive
Spontaneous 1
Equilibrium
Positive
< 1
Negative
Non-spontaneous

29. Relationship Between Thermodynamic Quantities
Equilibrium composition measurements
Calorimetry and entropy: S0 and DS0
Electrical measurements: E0 and E0cell

30. E0cell of cells
Model of a portion of a cell membrane shows a K+ channel (blue) and a Na+ channel (red). The area outside the cell (top) is rich in Na+ and low in K+. Inside the cell, the fluids are relatively rich in K+ and low in Na+.

31. Electrolytic Cells
The term “electrochemical cell” is often used to refer to a:
Voltaic Cell – one with a spontaneous reaction
The metal that is higher on activity series, should be made cathode for a spontaneous reaction
Eocell greater than zero = spontaneous
Electrolytic cell – one with a nonspontaneous reaction
Eocell less than zero= nonspontaneous
Why would anyone be interested in a cell that is not spontaneous?
This would certainly not a good battery choice, but by supplying electrical energy to a non spontaneous cell, we can force this reaction to occur.
This is especially useful for producing substances, particularly elements. I.e. the zinc sulfate cell discussed above is similar to the cell used in the industrial production of zinc metal.

32. Electrolytic Cells
Electrolytic Cell – a cell in which a nonspontaneous redox reaction is forced to occur; a combination of two electrodes, an electrolyte and an external power source.
Electrolysis – the process of supplying electrical energy to force a nonspontaneous redox reaction to occur
The external power source acts as an “electron pump”; the electric energy is used to do work on the electrons to cause an electron transfer
Electrons are pulled from the anode and pushed to the cathode by the battery or power supply

33. Comparing Electrochemical Cells: Voltaic and Electrolytic
It is best to think of “positive” and “negative” for electrodes as labels, not charges.

34. Electrolytic cells
Electrical energy is used to cause a non-spontaneous reaction to occur.
Current (I): a measure of the charge (Q) per unit time (t)
Units = amps or amperes (A)
1 A = 1 C / 1 s
Independently discovered the relationship b/n elec and magnetism, but one year after Faraday.
André-Marie Ampère (1775 – 1836)

35. Ex: 2Na+ (l) + 2Cl- (l) → 2Na (l) + Cl2 (g)
Oxidation half-cell: 2 Cl- (l) → Cl2 (g) + 2 e-
Reduction half-cell: Na+ (l) + e- → Na (l)
e- flow
(+)
(-) Pt Pt
Cl2 (g)
NaCl (l)
Na (l)
anode
cathode
In a voltaic cell: anode is (-), cathode is (+)
In an electrolytic cell: anode is (+), cathode is (-)

36. Quantitative Electrolysis
Ex: A current of A is passed through an electrolytic cell containing molten NaCl for 1.5 hours.
Write the electrode reactions.
Calculate the mass products formed at each electrodes
Oxidation: 2 Cl- (l) → Cl2 (g) + 2 e-
Reduction: Na+ (l) + e- → Na (l)
Strategy: calculate the total charge of e- transferred, and use F to convert to moles.

38. Electrolysis of Aqueous Mixtures
If the voltage on an aqueous mixture of CuCl2 and ZnCl2 in an electrolytic cell is slowly increased, what products will form at each electrode?
What exists in solution that could be reduced?
Cu2+, Zn2+, and H2O (not Cl-)
Cu e- → Cu Eºred = 0.34 V
Zn e- → Zn Eºred = V
2 H2O + 2 e- → H2 + 2 OH- Eºred = V
Since Eºred (Cu) is the most positive, it is the most probable reaction, and therefore will occur most easily (at the cathode):
Cu (s) > Zn (s) > H2 (g)

39. If the voltage on an aqueous mixture of CuCl2 and ZnCl2 in an electrolytic cell is slowly increased, what products will form at each electrode?
What exists in solution that could be oxidized?
Cl- and H2O (not Cu2+ and Zn2+)
2 H2O → O2 + 4 H+ + 4 e- Eºox = V
2 Cl- → Cl2 + 2 e- Eºox = V
Since Eºox (H2O) is the most positive, it is the most probable reaction, and therefore will occur most easily (at the anode):
O2 (g) > Cl2 (g)

40. Electroplating
The anode is a silver bar, and the cathode is an iron spoon.
Anode:
Ag (s) → Ag+ (aq)
Cathode:
Ag+ (aq) → Ag (s)
Demo: 9-V battery with silver electrode, AgNO3 solution, and graphite.