Electrochemistry

Practice Questions-Problems

* If the reaction or notation of E is written in oxidation form then the potential value
given is Eoxdn and if written in reduction form, the potential is Eredn.

1. Express the formation of H2O from H2 andO2 in acidic solution as the difference of two reduction
half-reactions
2. Represent a cell in which the overall reaction is
Zn + Hg2SO4 (s) ZnSO4 + 2Hg(l)
and write the separate electrode reactions.
3. Express the oxidation of NADH which participates in the chain of oxidations that constitutes
respiration, to NAD+ by oxygen, when the latter is reduced to H2O2, in aqueous solution as the
difference of two reduction half-reactions. The overall reaction is NADH(aq) + O2(g) + H+(aq) →
NAD+(aq) + H2O2(aq).
4. Can one store 1M copper sulphate solution in a nickel vessel?
Given E0(Ni2+, Ni) and E0(Cu2+,Cu) are - 0.25 V and + 0.34 V respectively.
5. Express the expansion of gas in terms of redox reactions: H2 (g, pi) → H2 (g, pf) .
6. Write the half-reaction and the reaction quotient for the reduction of oxygen to water in acidic
solution.
7. Write the half-reaction and the reaction quotient for a chlorine gas electrode.
8. If current of 2 amperes pass through the cell how long will it take to deposit 5 g of copper on the
cathode? (1 C= 1 Ampere sec)
9. Write the half-reaction and the reaction quotient for the calomel electrode,Hg(l)lHg2Cl2(s)/Cl-
(aq),in which mercury(l)chloride (calomel) is reduced to mercury metal in the presence of
chloride ions. This electrode is a component of instruments used to measure pH .
10. Write the half-reaction and the reaction quotient for the lead-lead-sulphate electrode of the
lead-acid battery, in which Pb(ll) as lead(ll)sulphate, is reduced to metallic lead in the presence
of hydrogen sulphate ions in the electrolyte
11. Write the chemical equation for the reaction in the cell
Ag(s)/AgBr(s)/NaBr(aq) ll NaCl(aq)/ Cl2(g) / Pt(s).
12. Identify the species undergone oxidation and reduction in CuS(s) + O2(g) → Cu(s) + SO2(g).
13. Calculate the equilibrium constant for the reaction Sn2+(aq)+Pb(s)↔Sn(s)+Pb2+(aq) at 298K.
14. Calculate the biological standard potential of the half-reaction O2 (g)+4H+(aq)+ 4e-→2H2O(l) at
25 0C given its value +1.23 V under thermodynamic standard conditions.
15. Estimate the biological standard potential of the NAD+/NADH couple at 250C, the reduction half-
reaction is NAD+(aq)+ H+(aq)+2e-→NADH(aq) E0cell = -0.11 V
16. Calculate the E value of the given reaction using Nernst eqn. Write the oxidation and reduction
half-reactions of the following overall process.
Cr2O72-(aq) + I-(aq) ↔Cr3+ (aq) + I2(s)
[Cr3+] - 1* 10-5M
 [Cr2O72-] - 2.0 M; [H+] - 1.0 M; [I- ] - 1.0 M
17. Calculate the reverse potential for a Zn electrode in contact with ZnCl2 when the activity of Zn is
aZn2+ = 10-3 M.
Zn→Zn2++2e- E0Zn = -0.76 V
18. Show that for the reduction reaction given below
2H+ + 2 e-↔ H2
EH = -0.0591pH

16. Show that for the reaction O2 + 2H2O +4 e-↔4OH- ; E(O2/OH-) = E0(O2/OH-) – (0.0591/4)log(aOH-)

17. Calculate the potential of oxygen electrode at pH=14.0

18. In the cell reaction given below what is the ratio of the activities of ionic species required to

make the polarity reverse

Fe2++ Sn → Sn2++ Fe E0FelFe2+= 0.44 V, E0SnlSn2+ = -0.14V

19. Calculate the e.m.f. of the following cell at 250C

Fe2++Cu+→Cu+Fe3+

Fe3+ (a = 0.01); Fe2+(a = 0.0001); Cu+(a =0.01)

E0Fe3+lFe2+= +0.771 V, E0Cu+lCu = +0.5211 V

20. Find the potential of a cell where Ni + Sn2+→ Ni2++ Sn

aNi2+ =1.3; aSn 2+=1.0 x 10-4 predict the spontaneous reaction direction

21. If the temperature is 250C what activity of Fe2+ would be required to stop the corrosion of Fe in

acidic condition and in presence of O2.

22. Calculate the voltage of the following cell Zn+Cd2+ (0.2) →Zn2+ (0.0004) +Cd

23. Calculate the potential for each half cell and total e.m.f. of the cell (Ecell) at 250C

Pb/Pb2+(a=0.001M)II Cl-(a=0.1M) / Cl2(1atm)/Pt

E0Pb2+lPb=-0.13 V E0 Cl2lCl-=1.358 V

24. Write a balanced cell reaction and calculate the e.m.f. of the following cell

Pt/Sn2+ (a=0.1), Sn4+ (a=0.1)II Fe2+ (a=0.2)/Fe

E0 (Sn2+, Sn4+) =-0.15V; Fe2++2e-→Fe E0 (Fe2+, Fe) =-0.44V.

25. Write the expression for the mean activity coefficient and mean activity of the following.
 Assume complete dissociation.

MgSO4; MgCl2; NaCl; Al2(SO4)3; CuSO4; K3PO4; CaCl2

26. Find the solubility product of MgF2 if the concentration of Mg2+ in solution is 1.17 mM (use

Debye-Huckel limiting law for calculating mean activity coefficient).

27. Calculate the value of mean activity coefficient in 5 x 10-4 M solutions of

(a) KCl; (b) Cu(NO3)2; (c) ZnSO4. Assume complete dissociation.

28. Using the Standard Reduction Potentials given below, determine the voltage for a
galvanic cell made from
Ca(s)/Ca2+(aq) II Al3+(aq)/Al(s) at 25.0°C.
Al3+ + 3e– → Al E° = –1.66 V
Ca2+ + 2e– → Ca E° = –2.76 V