ELECTROCHEMISTRY:

The Galvanic Cell

Tagudando, Ristel Mae B., Tuvera, Diandra Regina B., Vargas, Allaine T.,
Viado, Kevin Dwight E., Vicente, Calvin Jaron B., Villafaa, Jhanina Michaela C.


ABSTRACT

The experiment was designed to discover the properties of electrochemical cells. Three (3) old pieces of size
AA battery were obtained for the experiment. The metal casing was removed to expose the inner parts of the
batteries. Three (3) zinc strips were cut from the batteries to be used in succeeding part of the experiment. A
salt bridge was constructed using a glass tube, heating it in the process, to form a U-shape. The tube was filled
with a solution of saturated potassium chloride (KCl) and plugged with cotton. Solutions of copper sulfate
(CuSO4) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) were also prepared and placed in two (2) separate test tubes. Three copper
wires were scratched, dipped in the solutions, and were connected to a volt meter. Three (3) different trials
were done, each using three different copper wires and zinc strips. Also, two (2) lead wires were bent and
placed in a 20-mL beaker, containing a concentrated H2SO4 solution. Attached to the wires was an adjusted 9V
adaptor. The adaptor used was charged for five minutes, and the voltage was then recorded. It was recharged
for fifteen (15) minutes, checking the voltage in the process. LED lights were also used that when it produces
light, electrochemistry has been accomplished.


INTRODUCTION
which is another way of defining an oxidation

reaction. In contrast, the reverse reaction, in which

Chemical reactions involving the transfer of
Zn2+ ions gain two electrons to become Zn atoms, is
electrons from one reactant to another are called
an example of a reduction half-reaction.
oxidation-reduction reactions or redox reactions. In

!!
a redox reaction, two half-reactions occur. One
(!")
+ 2 ! (!)
reactant gives up electrons, undergoing oxidation,
Equation 2: Reduction Reaction
and the other reactant gains electrons, undergoing

reduction.

In a reduction reaction, there is a decrease

in oxidation number. Chemical equation

An electrochemical cell is based on an
representing half-reactions must be both mass and
oxidation-reduction, redox, reaction, consisting of
charge balanced. In the half-reactions, there is one
two half-cells: an anode half-cell and a cathode
zinc on both sides of the equation. The charge is
half-cell. Oxidation occurs at the anode, while
balanced because the 2+ charge on the zinc ion is
reduction occurs at the cathode. An
balanced by two electrons, 2 ! , giving zero net
electrochemical cell can produce an electric
charge on both sides.
current, which is driven by an electric potential

difference between the two half-cells. A piece of

Any half-reaction can be expressed as a
zinc going into a solution as zinc ions, with each Zn
reduction reaction, as illustrated in the case where
atom giving up two electrons, is an example of an
Equation 1 can be reversed to Equation 2. A
oxidation half-reaction.
measure of the tendency for a reduction to occur is

its reduction potential, E, measured in units of
+2

Volts. At standard conditions, 25 C and

() () + 2
concentrations of 1.0 M for the aqueous ions, the
Equation 1: Oxidation Reaction
measured voltage of the reduction half-reaction is

defined as the standard reduction potential, E.
The oxidation number of Zn(s) is 0 and the
2+

oxidation number of the Zn is +2. Therefore, in
this half-reaction, the oxidation number increases,


If two half-cells are connected by placing a
wire between the pieces of metal and by adding a
salt bridge between the two solutions, a direct
electric current can flow through the circuit. The
electric current is generated because metal atoms
in the more reducing metal convert to ions and
leave one electrode to enter the solutions and ions
of the less reducing metal accept electrons and
plate out on the other electrode. The electrons left
behind, when positive ions are formed at one
electrode, pass through the external circuit and
into the other electrode.


The half-cell in which oxidation occurs is
called the anode. This is the half-cell in which metal
atoms lose electrons (oxidized) to form positively
charged ions (which go into the solution). The
electrons flow into the external circuit from the
anode. On the other end, the half-cell in which
reduction occurs is called the cathode. This is the
half-cell in which metal atoms gain electrons
(reduced) and plate out onto the electrode as
uncharged atoms. The electrons flow out of the
external circuit into the cathode.


Because oxidation is defined as the loss of
electrons and increase in oxidation number, the
half-cell where oxidation is taking place generates
electrons and causes the piece of metal to become
more negative. Thus, when the leads are connected
so that the meter reading is positive, the anode is
the electrode connected to the negative lead of the
meter and the cathode is the electrode connected
to the positive lead.

!"## = !"#!!"# !"#$%
Equation 3: Cell Potential

EXPERIMENTAL

A. Compounds Tested (or Samples used)
- 1M CuSO4, 1M ZnSO4, saturated
KCl, copper wires, zinc strips, lead
strips, concentrated H2SO4.

B. Procedure

1. The Dry Cell

Pieces of zinc strips were acquired by
obtaining different old and used AA

batteries. The metal casing of the batteries

were first removed using a hammer or
pliers to expose its inner parts. The
contents of the zinc casing, namely the
magnesium chloride paste and graphite
rod, were removed. A small part of this zinc
casing was cut out and washed thoroughly,
to be used for the next part of the
experiment.

2. Preparing the Salt Bridge

An 8-inch soft-glass tubing was
obtained and was filled with saturated KCl
solution. A small piece of cotton was
plugged in each ends of the tube, securing
that there were no air gaps when the tube
is inverted and that the cotton would not
fall off.

3. The Galvanic Cell

Approximately equal amounts of 1M
CuSO4 and 1M ZnSO4 solutions were
poured in two separate wells of a microwell
plate. The zinc strip and an obtained copper
wire were scratched with a pair of scissors
to expose its shiny part. The zinc strip and
the copper wire were connected to the
voltmeter. The copper wire was immersed
to the well containing the CuSO4 solution,
and the zinc strip to the ZnSO4 solution.
The prepared salt bridge was placed to
connect the samples. The range was set to
voltage and the voltmeter reading (EMF)
was recorded. The result was compared to
the theoretical value. The range was then
set to current and the voltmeter reading
in Ampere was recorded. The zinc and
copper electrodes were detached from the
voltmeter and was attached to a LED bulb.
The bulb was observed if it would light up.

4. Lead Storage Battery

Two lead strips were cut and were
individually labeled as (+) and the other as
(-). The strips were bent and were attached
to a 100-mL beaker with one of its ends
immersed in the beaker, and the other
hanging outside. 20-mL of concentrated

H2SO4 was poured into the beaker. The (-)

end of the lead was attached to the
negative terminal of the DC adaptor and
the (+) was attached to the positive
terminal. The lead storage battery was
charged by setting the voltage to 9V, and
plugging the adaptor to a power outlet. The
battery was charged for five (5) minutes.
The DC adaptor was disconnected and the
leads were connected to a voltmeter. The
voltage was recorded then recorded.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1. The Galvanic Cell
Due to their respective reduction
potentials, a spontaneous redox process occurs
when the zinc electrode is connected to the
negative terminal and the copper electrode is
connected to the positive terminal of the
voltmeter. The spontaneous flow of electrons
from anode to cathode generates a current
with a voltage near the theoretical E cell for
these couples.

The figure below shows an illustration of a
galvanic cell:
















Figure 1.0: The Galvanic Cell

at the surface of the copper electrode. The net

reaction is the oxidation of zinc by copper (II)
ions:
() + 2+ 2+ + ()

The table below shows the half reactions
(reduction and oxidation) once it separate
locations:

Left Electrode:
Oxidation
! !! + 2 !
Right Electrode:
Reduction
!! + 2 ! (!)
Table 1.1 Half Reactions of the Cell

The other table shows the results
measured with the voltmeter:

Trial
Voltage
1
0.971 V
2
0.979 V
3
0.976 V

= 0.975
= 4.06 10!"
= 0.416%

The galvanic cell has an average voltage of
0.975 volts (V).

2. Lead Storage Battery

The electrodes of the cells in a lead storage
battery consist of lead grids. The openings of
the anodic grid are filled with spongy (porous)
lead. The openings of the cathodic grid are
filled with lead dioxide (PbO2) solution.

Dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4) serves as the
electrolyte. When the battery is delivering a
current, the lead at the anode is oxidized:

!! + 2 !

2+

The excess electrons that remain when Zn

ions emerge from the zinc in the left cell would
be able to flow through the external circuit and
into the right electrode, where they could be
delivered to the Cu2+ ions which become
discharged, that is, converted into Cu atoms

Because the lead ions are in the presence

of aqueous sulfate ions (from the sulfuric acid),
insoluble lead sulfate precipitates onto the
electrode. The overall reaction at the anode is
therefore:

+ !!! ! + 2 !

Electrons that flow from the anode

simultaneously reduce the lead dioxide at the
cathode:

2 ! + ! + 4 ! !! + 2!

Again, the lead ions that are formed react
with aqueous sulfate ions to form insoluble
lead sulfate on the electrode, and the overall
reaction at the cathode is:

2 ! + ! + 4 ! + !!! ! + 2!

The figure below shows an illustration of
the Lead Storage Battery set-up:

















Figure 2.0: Lead Storage Battery Set-Up

The table below shows the measure
voltages with a voltmeter in relationship with
time:


Time
Voltage
0 min.
0.0 V
5 mins.
0.28 V
15 mins.
14.28 V

The longer the time the wires are
connected to the electrode, the greater the
voltage.

REFERENCES:

Chem1 Electrochemistry: Cells and electrodes.
(n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2016, from
http://www.chem1.com/acad/webtext/elchem/ec2
.html

Lead Storage Battery II. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13,
2016,
from
https://www.chem.wisc.edu/deptfiles/genchem/ne
torial/rottosen/tutorial/modules/electrochemistry/
06battery/18_64.htm

Electrochemistry I The Galvanic Cell. (n.d.).
Retrieved
March
13,
2016,
from
http://www.uccs.edu/Documents/chemistry/nsf/1
06%20Expt9V-GalvanicCell.pdf

Electrochemistry Cells: A Discovery Exercise. (n.d.)
Retrieved
March
13,
2016,
from
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