1. Action of a simple cell. e Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+) H+ SO42- e H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

2. Action of a Simple cell.
To make a simple cell in a Laboratory, the following are required:
Copper rod.

3. Action of a Simple cell.
To make a simple cell in a Laboratory, the following are required :
Copper rod.
Zinc rod.

4. Action of a Simple cell.
To make a simple cell in a Laboratory, the following are required.
Copper rod.
Zinc rod.
dilute sulphuric acid.

5. Action of a Simple cell.
To make a simple cell in a Laboratory, the following are required.
Copper rod.
Zinc rod.
dilute sulphuric acid.
Connecting wire.

6. Action of a Simple cell.
To make a simple cell in a Laboratory, the following are required.
Copper rod.
Zinc rod.
dilute sulphuric acid.
Connecting wire
Beaker 100 cm3.

7. Action of a Simple cell.
When the Copper and Zinc plates are joined by awire and dipped into dilute sulphuric acid the following observations are made:
The Zinc rod slowly dissolves in the sulphuric acid.

8. Action of a Simple cell.
When the Copper and Zinc plates are joined by awire and dipped into dilute sulphuric acid the following observations are made:
The Zinc rod slowly dissolves in the sulphuric acid.

9. Action of a Simple cell.
When the Copper and Zinc plates are joined by awire and dipped into dilute sulphuric acid the following observations are made:
Bubbles of Hydrogen are formed on the copper plate.

10. Action of a Simple cell.
A current of electrons drifts through the wire from the Zinc to Copper.

11. Action of a Simple cell.
dilute sulphuric acid ionises according to the equation.
H2SO4(aq) H+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

12. Action of a Simple cell.
Zinc atoms dissolves from the Zinc plate and go into solution as Zn2+ ions each of which leaves two electrons behind on the Zinc rod.

13. Action of a Simple cell.
These electrons are the source of electron current which goes through the wire from the Zinc to the Copper.

14. What happens at the Copper rod?
At the Copper rod Hydrogen ions are discharged to form Hydrogen atoms and molecules.
H e H atom
H H H2(g)

15. Conventional direction of electric current.
Current flows from positive terminal of a cell to the negative terminal.

16. Conventional direction of electric current.
The electrons are driven by ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE emf.

17. Emf of a cell.
Emf of a cell is equal to the potential difference across its terminal when it is not producing current in a circuit.

18. Emf of a simple cell.
The emf of a simple cell is about 1.0 volts.

19. Emf of a simple cell.
If a small pocket bulb is connected to the terminals of acell its filament will glow for a few minutes.

20. Action of a simple cell. e Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+) H+ SO42- e H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

21. Action of a simple cell. e e H+ Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+) SO42- H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

22. Action of a simple cell. e e e H+ Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+) SO42- H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

23. Action of a simple cell. e e e e H+ Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+) SO42-
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

24. Action of a simple cell. e e e e e Copper rod (+) H+ Zinc rod (-)
SO42- H+ H+
Zn 2+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

25. Action of a simple cell. e e e e e e H+ Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+)
SO42- H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

26. Action of a simple cell. e e e e e e e Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+)
SO42- H+ H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

27. Action of a simple cell. e e e e e e e e Copper rod (+) H+
Zinc rod (-)
SO42- H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

28. Action of a simple cell. e e e e e e e e e Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+)H+
SO42- H+ H+
Zn 2+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

29. Action of a simple cell. e e e e e e e e e Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+)H+
SO42- H+ H+
Zn 2+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

30. Faults of a Simple cell.
The emf of a simple cell quickly falls to a small value From about 1.0 V to 0.2 V.

31. Polarisation. The defect results from formation of a layer
of Hydrogen bubbles on the Copper Plate and is called Polarisation.

32. Polarisation.
The hydrogen layer sets up a back emf in the cell in opposition to that due to Copper and Zinc.

33. Polarisation.
The hydrogen gas partially insulates the plate hence increases the internal resistance of the cell.

34. How to stop Polarisation.
The original emf of the cell can be restored by adding a depolarizing agent Potassium dichromate to the cell which oxidises hydrogen to water.

35. Local Action.
If the Zinc used is impure Bubbles of hydrogen will be seen coming off the Zinc.

36. Local Action.
This is called Local Action

37. Local Action.
Local action is produced by the presence of impurities such as
carbon

38. Local Action.
Local action is produced by the presence of impurities such as
carbon
iron

39. Local Action.
Which set up tiny local cells at the Zinc surfaces.

40. Local Action.
Bubbles of hydrogen are given off from the impurity and the surrounding Zinc slowly dissolves in the acid.

41. Local Action.
This merely wastes the Zinc.

42. To prevent Local Action.
. To prevent local action the Zinc is cleaned and a small globule of mercury is rubbed over the surface with a piece of cotton wool.

43. To prevent Local Action.
The mercury forms a bright coating of Zinc amalgam all over the surface.

44. To prevent Local Action
The amalgam covers up the impurities and prevents them from coming into contact with the acid.

45. That’s the end of the lesson.
Get ready to answer some revision questions

46. Revison Questions.
State five materials required to make a simple cell in a lab

47. Revision questions.
When Copper and Lead are joined by a wire when dipped in sulphuricacid
Slowly dissolves into the sulphuric acid.

48. Revision questions.
When Copper and Lead are joined by a wire when dipped in sulphuricacid
ii are formed on the Copper plate.

49. Revision questions.
When Copper and Lead are joined by a wire when dipped in sulphuricacid
iii a current of electrons drifts through the wire from the To the

50. Revision questions.
3 Conventional current direction is from terminal of a cell to The terminal.

51. Revision questions.
Emf means

52. Revision questions.
5 Electrons in a cell are driven by

53. Revision questions. Emf of a simple cell is A 0.2 V B 1.0 V C 1.5 V
D V

54. Revision questions.
Presence of Emf is shown by

55. Revision questions.
Emf of a Simple cell quickly falls to a small value due to formation on the copper plate
This defect is called

56. Revision questions.
10 The hydrogen layer sets up a and partially insulates the plate hence increases the of the cell.

57. Revision questions.
The original emf of the cell can be restored by adding a called

58. Revision questions.
If impure zinc is used in a simple cell, then local action can be prevented by using

59. The end This work was Produced and presented by John Ssemmondo
P O Box 1901
Kampala
tel

60. Faults of a Simple cell

61. Action of a simple cell e e e e e e e e Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+) eH+
SO42- H+
Zn 2+ H+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

62. Action of a simple cell Zinc rod (-) Copper rod (+) H+ SO42- H+ Zn 2+
Dilute sulphuric
acid
H2SO4

63. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

64. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

65. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

66. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

67. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

68. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

69. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

70. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)

71. Action of a simple cell
Zinc rod (-)
Copper rod (+)