Announcements

• PS #10 – due Monday 1st May in lecture

• Lab exam – Tuesday 2nd May @ 7:30 pm in McDonnell A01/A02
• Lab review – Saturday 29th April @ 6pm in B02 (Doors open at
5:30 pm)
• No lecture during reading period

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Review 1. Oxidation occurs at the anode; Reduction occurs
at the cathode
2. Electrons travel from the anode to the cathode
through the external conductor (eg. A wire) –
electric current
3. To complete the circuit, negative ions travel from
the cathode compartment to the anode
compartments through the electrolyte (Electrons
do not travel through electrolytes!) – ionic current
4. If overall cell potential is positive,
the rxn is spontaneous = Galvanic cell.

Leo the
Red Cat
• Lose
Electrons
Oxidation
• Reduction at
the Cathode
P. 479 Fig. 11-76 sonjaf@princeton.edu
Calculating Ecell Note: Standard conditions ( 0 ) mean
1M solutions, 1 atm gases, 298 K

Cathode E0cathode
Anode - E0anode
Cell E0cell

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Nernst Equation
Last time
• ∆G = -nFE
• ∆G0 = -nFE0
Last year (Chapter 10)
• ∆G = ∆G0 + RT ln Q
Walter Nernst

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Nernst Equation
RT
E= E0 – ln Q
nF

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Nernst Equation
The Nernst equation can be applied to half cell equations and overall cell
equations. At 25°C:

0.0591 [Prods]
General E = E0 – log Q Q=
n [Rxts]

= E0cell – 0.0591 log Q Cu2+ + Zn ® Cu + Zn2+

Overall Ecell
Cell n Q = [Zn2+]/[Cu2+]

Eanode = E0anode – 0.0591 log Q Zn ® Zn2+ + 2e-

Anode
n Q = [Zn2+]

Ecathode = E0cathode – 0.0591 log Q Cu2+ + 2e- ® Cu

Cathode
n Q = 1/[Cu2+]
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Nernst Equation (example)
What is the cell 1. Decide which electrode is likely to be the cathode.
potential in this
galvanic cell at 25°C?
?

%
electron flow 2. Write overall reaction and calculate 𝐸"#$$ .

Al Mn

3. Use Nernst equation to calculate 𝐸"#$$ .

1.5 M Al3+ 0.5 M Mn2+

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Nernst Equation (example)
What happens to the • Nernst equation predicts initial Ecell is +0.468V
cell potential when 1. All reactions go towards equilibrium
current flows?

e- e-

2. At equilibrium
Al Mn

1.5 M Al3+ 0.5 M Mn2+

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Nernst equation at equilibrium

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Demo

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Concentration cells
1. What direction
would electrons
flow?
2. Which Ag A B
electrode is the
cathode?
3. What is the cell
potential at 25°C?

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Concentration cells
What is the cell potential at 25°C?
%
A B 1. Write overall reaction and calculate 𝐸"#$$ .

2. Use Nernst equation to calculate 𝐸"#$$ .

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